Facts ! On Type 2 Diabetes.
October 20, 2010 by AMA
Filed under Heart Disease
One fact about Type 2 Diabetes is that is the most common form of the disease. It makes up 90 and 95% of all patients who now have it. Another fact is that the disease affects mostly adults. However, there are an increasing number of juveniles receiving diagnoses for it every year. Did you know that anybody with a family history of this disease have a increased chance of also developing it. This is especially true in those of African, Asian, Native American, or Pacific Islander descent. One very important fact is that anyone, no matter there heritage, can develop this form of diabetes if they become obese.
One fact many people are not aware of is that those with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes often can treat it with diet and exercise. These changes often break down the insulin resistance that is a major factor in developing the disease. Another fact is that it can lead to dehydration in some cases. As glucose builds in the blood stream, it has to go somewhere. The kidneys regularly flush this out through urination. That is one reason why so many people with diabetes have frequent urination urges. However, when this happens too often it can leave the person dehydrated as a result. Another proven fact that people are best to know about is that severe dehydration can lead to a diabetic coma.
Another fact that patients with Type 2 diabetes should know is that high glucose over time can damage the blood vessels in most vital organ systems. It can also lead to hardening of the arteries. It is a leading contributor to heart attacks and strokes as well. People hear of diabetic patients needing a foot or leg amputated. This happens when the disease begins doing intensive nerve damage in the extremity. Many patients begin with numbness. Due to the lack of sensation, the patient often begins getting infections and poor circulation problems. In the extreme end, this can lead to amputation.
Facts about Type 2 diabetes must look at treating the disease once it happens. As stated before, diet and exercise are common ways of treating the disease. Most sufferers do not need additional insulin. However, in some cases, patients may need to monitor their blood glucose and take insulin. But is not always forever if they begin to lose body weight and eat the right way. Use a diagnosis as a wakeup call, not a death knell.
Symptoms – Type 2 Diabetes. Wow !
The symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes often do not appear for years. They build gradually in due course and don’t become fully obvious until they reach critical levels. If you have a family history of diabetes or are severely overweight, be on the lookout for these symptoms. The first one to consider is frequent urination and increased thirst. Your body automatically flushes the excess glucose out through the urine. As the glucose builds, the kidneys increase the amounts of urine to keep up. Urination requires fluids. The kidneys begin drawing on the body cells to keep the fluid levels up. This causes the increased thirst and the increased urges to urinate.
Another symptom set of type 2 diabetes is increased hunger and unexplained weight loss. Glucose is a major energy source cells use. They use insulin to convert the glucose into energy. With cells not converting the glucose efficiently, the cells call for more energy in the form of food. This triggers the increased hunger needs. Regardless of how much more you eat, your body’s cells are not getting the energy and nutrients they demanding. That triggers them to look elsewhere for energy. They begin to draw on the body’s stored fat for energy. They also can draw on the muscle cells. This begins an unexplained drop in weight.
As the body begins to deal with the excess glucose and lost energy, it begins to affect other parts of the body. With type 2 diabetes, common symptoms include fatigue, blurred vision, sores that heal slowly, and more infections than normal. As the cells desperately fight to get energy, this causes a patient to feel depleted and tired. As the kidneys draw on the body’s fluids for urination, it also depletes the levels of fluids in the eyes. This can lead to blurry vision. The fight for energy makes the body’s immune system begin to diminish. A small sore can take weeks to heal due to the depressed immunity. It also lets small common infections get out of control.
A common symptom that type 2 Diabetes individuals report are velvety dark skin patches in the folds of the body under the arm, in the groin area and around the neck. These patches go by the name of acanthosis nigricans. It is actually a marker to physicians that something may be wrong in the body. Keep your eye out for these symptoms to catch the disease before it becomes critical.