Getting To Know The Symptoms, Signs And Treatments For Type 2 Diabetes

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One of the biggest health risks that people in the United States face today is Type 2 diabetes. This chronic condition affects at least 37 million Americans, for which there is currently no cure. Moreover, anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, which also means that should someone eventually get it, they will need to deal with a number of serious complications that come with it too.

Considering the number of people that develop type 2 diabetes, it’s important to know the kinds of signs and symptoms of diabetes, especially in the early stages of the disease. In addition, understanding how it should be managed and treated over time is important as well. Thankfully, there are a number of different ways to handle and treat type 2 diabetes, and many of them can be found online.

Here are symptoms to watch out for with type 2 diabetes, and how to manage this life-long disease.

 

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Maybe you are wondering if you have type 2 diabetes, or maybe you’ve just received this life changing diagnosis. Regardless of which category you fall under, it’s important to note that it doesn’t have to feel like a death sentence. Type 2 diabetes not only happens to be the most common form of diabetes, but it is also very manageable. While some can manage it through healthy eating and exercise, others require medication.

Having type 2 diabetes means that your body doesn’t know how to use insulin properly, which is otherwise known as insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas that works to release blood sugar into the cells to use for energy. But when someone has type 2 diabetes, it means that the cells aren’t responding to insulin the way they should. As insulin resistance grows, the body’s cells become even more unresponsive. As a result, the blood sugar levels rise, which can eventually lead to many serious health conditions.

Here are a number of different factors and health considerations when it comes to type 2 diabetes. These include:

  • Genetics: If you have a first-degree relative, meaning a parent or sibling that has type 2 diabetes.
  • Having metabolic syndrome: This is a group of health conditions that occur at the same time, such as high blood sugar, high blood pressure, heightened triglyceride levels, and the like, which can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes
  • Being overweight or obese: Having too much body fat
  • Bad communication between cells: When the liver, fat, and muscle cells fail to respond to insulin
  • Too much glucose produced by the liver: Too much fat in the liver makes it less responsive to insulin and leaves glucose in the blood.
  • Broken beta cells: Issues with the cells that produce the glucose-regulating hormone in the blood

In addition, you may also be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you have particular risk factors in your background or health history. Notably, the higher number of risk factors you have from the following list, the higher the chances that you can develop diabetes.

The following risk factors are:

  • Being above 45 years of age
  • An immediate family member, such as a parent or sibling, that has diabetes
  • Having hypertension, or high blood pressure
  • High triglyceride levels
  • Prediabetes
  • Your ethnicity, such as Hispanic American, African American, Pacific Islander, Alaska Native, or Native American
  • Having low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol
  • Having gestational diabetes while pregnant, or giving birth to a baby that weighs over 9 pounds
  • Having Polycystic ovary syndrome, otherwise known as PCOS
  • Practicing a sedentary lifestyle, or exercising or being physically active less than 3 times a week

It’s important to note that if you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, be sure to speak to your doctor about your concerns. You may be able to establish your potential risk of developing diabetes, as well as figure out ways to lessen or temper that risk.

 

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Oftentimes, when people develop type 2 diabetes, the symptoms are not always obvious. Sometimes the signs are quite subtle and mild, making it quite difficult to detect. In fact, some people already have type 2 diabetes and they aren’t even aware of it. Statistics show that 8.5 million Americans don’t even know they have it. This is why it’s important to understand what the symptoms and signs of type 2 diabetes are so that you are aware of what to watch out for, even when it comes to the smallest changes in your health.

Here are some of the symptoms for type 2 diabetes to watch out for:

  • Having to urinate very frequently, otherwise clinically called polyuria
  • Feeling very thirsty, otherwise clinically called polydipsia
  • Feeling incredibly fatigued
  • Being irritable
  • Having blurry vision
  • Experiencing tingling or numbness in your hands and feet
  • Wounds that take a long time to heal or don’t heal at all
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Recurring yeast infections

Aside from these symptoms, it’s important to watch out for other changes to your health and overall well-being as early signs of type 2 diabetes. Be sure to speak with your physician if you notice any changes in your health. Even if it turns out not to be diabetes, you may be able to catch something before it becomes a risk for a potential sickness or disease.

 

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How To Treat Type 2 Diabetes

If and when you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, your doctor should create a personalized plan to best treat and manage your health condition. As long as you follow his or her instructions, and take extra care of your disease, then you will be able to properly manage your condition.

One main component when it comes to managing type 2 diabetes is by checking your blood glucose levels. Rest assured your doctor will make sure to teach you not only how to do it, but how often you will need to check. This way, you’ll be able to not only manage the diabetes, but it will help your doctor better understand the level of your type 2 diabetes, as well as your overall health.

Other ways to best treat and manage type 2 diabetes is through lifestyle changes, medications, and regular checkups with your personal physician. Your treatment regimen may also include a variety of approaches towards your health and diabetes, in order to ensure that you not only stay on track, but also avoid adverse complications that often come with diabetes.

 

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Making Lifestyle Changes

More often than not, in order to manage your type 2 diabetes also means making changes to your diet, having a regular exercise regimen, as well as modifying other daily habits. By adjusting your lifestyle, you will be able to manage and control your blood sugar levels while practicing an overall healthy way of life.

The following list includes lifestyle changes that are usually recommended for people with diabetes:

  • Controlling your weight
  • Eating a diet rich in healthy carbohydrates and fiber, including foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
  • Limiting your intake of refined carbohydrates, animal fats, and sweets
  • Eating until you’re full
  • Doing at least half an hour of aerobic activity every day

In addition, your doctor should also help you learn to recognize low and high blood sugar levels, as well as how to keep them in a “good” place.

 

How To Be In Control of Your Condition

When it comes to type 2 diabetes, it can easily be managed alongside your doctor’s help. It’s very important to not only listen to your doctor, but to follow his medical advice, following a healthy diet, as well as closely monitoring your blood sugar levels. Furthermore, be sure to keep a close eye on your health and watch out for any changes, regardless of how small, in order to stop or lessen the risk of potential complications that can occur with type 2 diabetes.