About Diabetes

Rich jammes asked:


Type 2 diabetes can be a “silent” disease, which means that you may have it and not know you do. One of the most common things that occurs with type 2 diabetes is that you may begin to experience symptoms such as tingling in your fingers or toes (neuropathy), blurred vision, or chest pains or shortness of breath. Again, as with any troublesome symptoms, you should see your doctor.

Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. Some people are born with this condition or has the onset of diabetes at an early age. This is called juvenile diabetes or type 1. Type 1 diabetes usually requires insulin injections. The onset of diabetes later in life is called type 2. Type 2 diabetes can be treated and in most cases prevented with simple lifestyle changes.

The chronic condition associated with the way the body metabolizes glucose (sugar) is called diabetes. When the disease surfaces in adults or involves non-insulin dependency, this form of the condition is known as type 2 diabetes. Although type 2 diabetes is often preventable, an increasing amount of people is developing diabetes symptom and signs, as a result of a growing obesity problem throughout the United States.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can be a “silent” disease, which means that you may have it and not know you do. One of the most common things that occurs with type 2 diabetes is that you may begin to experience symptoms such as tingling in your fingers or toes (neuropathy), blurred vision, or chest pains or shortness of breath. Again, as with any troublesome symptoms, you should see your doctor.

Type 2 diabetes can develop at any age however is most common to appear during adulthood. Type 2 diabetes is caused by an insulin resistance; basically the body is unable to react properly to insulin. This resistance to react is caused by many factors which include age, obesity and having a high blood sugar throughout a long period of time.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

There are many causes for diabetes, which means that are many reasons why a person can develop diabetes type 2. The most common of all the factors that cause diabetes is genetics. Almost a half of the people who suffer from diabetes type 2 are brothers and sisters and one in three children of the same family will eventually suffer from diabetes. The second strongest cause of developing diabetes is obesity. That and an intake of many calories are the second and third of the diabetes causes. Almost a third of all people that suffer from diabetes type 2 have antibodies to the islet cells, which produce insulin. These cells so vital in diabetes can be detected in the blood. If the islet cells do not work properly, your body will not get enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of defective insulin secretion and insulin resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity. Although the exact cause for type 2 is unknown, it seems that central obesity predisposes people for insulin resistance, possibly because of hormone secretions that impair glucose tolerance. Fifty-five percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes are obese. Aging and family history also seem to play a role in the onset of this type. Type 2 diabetes is first treated by diet and exercise, which can restore insulin sensitivity. Some diabetics can control their glucose levels just by these natural methods. If this doesn’t work, the next step is treatment with oral ant diabetic drugs. If the oral medications fail, insulin therapy will be implemented.



Dana

$parkling Diamond$ asked:


I know there is a procedure available for type 1 diabetes that works for 2-3 years (animal transplant that eventually gets rejected by the human immune system) but does it work with type 2 diabetes?

Jesus

Carmen asked:


What is the metabolic abnormality that underlies the characteristic symptoms of diabetes mellitus?
A. A failure of the kidney tubules to reabsorb glucose from the urine
B. A failure of the villi of the intestine to absorb glucose from food
C. The body can’t switch from glucose metabolism to fat metabolism between meals.
D. The body’s cells can’t retain glucose absorbed from the blood.
E. The body’s cells can’t absorb enough glucose from the blood.

Thomas

sandara_0368 asked:


As an observation, it seems when one has high blood it comes next that he has heart ailment or diabetes. What’s the connection and what is the prevention on this?

Allison

Flor Serquina asked:


Probably the last thing on anybody’s mind when dealing with diabetes is jewelry. After all, bracelets, necklaces and anklets may not seem to serve any purpose beyond being decorative. However, when it comes to chronic diseases like diabetes, being identified as having a medical condition is often necessary. This is why diabetes bracelets are often worn not just to inform anyone about the wearer’s health status but also to alert people, such as rescuers, first-aid staff and medical professionals of the appropriate action to perform when the wearer is involved in an emergency.

When Knowledge Can Save a Life

When diabetics were first encouraged to wear diabetes bracelets, some people were not very supportive of getting “tagged” as a diabetic. However, the fact that the bracelets were medical alert tags quickly showed why it was a necessity. Today, it still is.

Diabetes requires special medical care and attention. In some emergencies, the patient may not always be able to speak or communicate or he may even be unresponsive. Furthermore, an emergency may occur when a relative or a friend who has knowledge about the patient’s diabetes may not be around. In these cases, a diabetes bracelet can silently inform the attending medical personnel of the patient’s disease.

This way, the proper treatment and medications can be administered without worrying about possible side effects or drug interaction. Imagine being in a situation where medical treatment that is otherwise safe and effective can actually put your health and your life at risk. This is often the case when a diabetic is treated without the medical staff’s knowledge that he or she has diabetes.

Preparing for an Emergency

Diabetes can be a tricky and rather deceptive condition to have, primarily because blood sugar levels can fluctuate unpredictably. When blood sugar levels suddenly drop or sharply rise, blackouts can occur, requiring medical attention. Having a diabetes bracelet will let the medical staff know how to make the appropriate medical decisions that can save your life. In case you ever figure in an accident, any medications that may be necessary in order to treat you won’t affect you in a negative way.

Always ensure that you or your loved one is wearing a diabetes bracelet before leaving the house. If necessary, pack an extra bracelet especially during special trips, particularly if you will be traveling alone. Always wear the bracelet where it can be spotted easily and avoid taking it off. It might cramp your style, but it can mean the difference between living a healthy life and suffering the consequences.

Bracelet for a Cause

One simple diabetes bracelet can actually make a big difference in the fight against diabetes. Certain groups sell bracelets, donating proceeds to support associations dedicated to helping people with diabetes. Often, the proceeds even fund further research about the disease.

The diabetes wristband that states, “Insulin is Not a Cure”, for example, is being promoted by the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation to support the foundation of the Education for Children with Diabetes. So now when you buy a diabetes bracelet, you might want to consider purchasing from groups that actually help push the struggle against diabetes forward. Further research is necessary in order to understand the real causes of this disease and probably even more in order for scientists to produce a cure.

Getting “Tagged”

These days, different bracelets are available for different medical and non-medical concerns but the need for a broader awareness of diabetes is still an important and necessary issue. Diabetes bracelets can be as simple as those made with rubber or as detailed as those made with metal and beads. Some diabetes bracelets can also be customized, including not just a simple alert but also other information such as your name, address, contact number or contact information of a person you’d like to contact in an emergency.

If you would like to help support the diabetes cause by using a diabetes bracelet, buy from groups and associations that actually donate proceeds or at least a portion of it to a related cause. Organizations who do this will state it in their websites, brochures or company ads. If you’re buying from a retail shop, you can also ask the salesperson if the proceeds from the sale are actually going to fund diabetes research or support groups. This is an excellent way to do your part in the fight against diabetes.



Monica

George Tohme asked:


Diabetes is the inability to transfer sugars in blood into the sugar-storage sites of your body, the muscles and liver. Sugars, called carbohydrates, are found mainly in cereals, rice, bread, pastas, potatoes, milk products, fruits, fruit juices and sweets. When we consume these foods, they pass from the stomach into the intestines and get broken down to the most basic sugar form, glucose. Glucose (sugar) normally moves into the blood via a web of blood vessels that are connected to the intestines. When the movement of glucose into the blood stream raises its average level above 100 points (mg/dl), it triggers the secretion of a hormone called insulin from the pancreas. When insulin is secreted into the blood, it causes the excess glucose (sugar) to be stored in muscles and liver cells. It is stored in a form called glycogen, which may be used at a later time as an immediate source of energy.

This energy is used for activities of up to three minutes: lifting or throwing an object, running away from danger, sprinting, stop-and-go actions such as a short walk, or any sports activity. Some people have impairment in their insulin production or in the functioning of their insulin. This insulin impairment causes the level of glucose to rapidly rise above the 100-point mark, and that is the condition we call diabetes. High sugar levels, left untreated, can gradually cause damage to vital tissues, such as blood vessels, the nervous system, kidneys, heart and arteries. This can cause debilitating strokes, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, loss of sensation or pain in the feet and hands, leading to leg amputations, kidney failure and blindness.



Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is when someone can produce little or no insulin, due mainly to immune and genetic (inherited) defects in the pancreas. People with Type 1 Diabetes create approximately only 10% of all of people diagnosed with diabetes. Type 1 can occur at a relatively young age, especially during childhood. At the time of diagnosis, people are usually of average weight, experiencing weight loss; frequent urination, blurred vision and dry mouth and their blood fasting sugar are way above 125 points (mg/dl). Type 1 diabetics have to depend on insulin use for the rest of their lives, in order to survive and making good lifestyle choices is integral to diabetes control. Oral Diabetes medications that are Sensitizers (see detailed discussion of this group of drugs in Action Step 2 right after the Insulin section) can be prescribed along with Insulin for people with Type 1 which can help reduce the amount of daily insulin used. Also leading and maintaining an active Lifestyle and making favorable food choices and raising your fiber intake can all help bring Diabetes under control and reduce the amount of total daily insulin dose (decisions about insulin dosing can ONLY be made by your doctor). Refer to Action Step 4 for a detailed discussion on how to start and maintain an active Lifestyle and make favorable food choices.



Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Pre-diabetes



This is a condition where glucose levels are higher than normal but not enough to be diagnosed as diabetes namely at a range from 100 to 125 mg/dl on a fasting state (first thing in the morning before eating). Typically, the more than 54 million people in this category are overweight or obese. They are people who consume large amounts of “junk food” (nutrient-deficient foods and drinks such as soft drinks and all other sugar containing juices and drinks. Foods that are loaded with sugars and unfavorable sources of fat such as animal fat, butter, margarine and Trans Fatty Acids that are found in the majority of packaged processed sweet and or salty snacks) and lead totally sedentary lifestyles; they also have high cholesterol and triglycerides and have low HDL (the good cholesterol). Studies show that these people will eventually develop diabetes and other preventable chronic ailments, such as: high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease, “unless” they are identified early and they start making favorable lifestyle choices.



Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects some women during pregnancy and is characterized by consistently higher than 95 points (mg/dl) on a fasting state first thing in the morning, and over 120 points 2 hours after a meal. Most women who suffer from Gestational Diabetes will return to having normal blood glucose levels after delivery. Up to 45% of women who develop diabetes during pregnancy may progress to having full-blown diabetes later in life unless they make favorable lifestyle choices and change their eating and activity habits. The main predisposing factors for gestational diabetes are family history of diabetes, obesity and sedentary lifestyles . It is crucial that women at risk be identified, since high blood sugar causes fetal harm.



Who Should Test?

All women, early on in their pregnancy, who have the following criteria must be tested for high blood sugar; women who are: overweight, over the age of 25, who have family history of diabetes, those who belong to ethnic groups other than Caucasian, those who have previously had gestational diabetes, or who have previously delivered large babies over 9 pounds.

Treatment

Gestational diabetes is initially treated with Lifestyle interventions such as making balanced food choices and increasing activity as described in Action Step 4. If fasting (first thing in the morning before eating) blood sugar is not brought to 95 points (mg/dl) or to 120 points 2 hours after lunch or dinner then Insulin is the ideal drug that is used. Your doctor will decide which insulin product and dose is appropriate for you. (See the discussion about insulin in Action Step 2).

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, usually affects people later on in life, after the age of 25 or 30. However, Type 2 Diabetes has alarmingly been plaguing children at a much younger age than ever witnessed. Kids as young as 15 and 17 who are obese and leading sedentary lifestyles and commonly seen in grocery stores shopping while riding electric shopping scooters, are now diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. About 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. People with Type 2 Diabetes produce insulin from their pancreas, but due to lifestyle factors such as obesity and inactivity the insulin is not able to perform and move the extra sugar from the blood into the muscle and liver cells, resulting in the buildup of sugar levels in the blood. This defect is referred to technically as insulin resistance. The diagnosis for Type 2 Diabetes is when people have a fasting (before eating in the morning) blood sugar level of 126 points (mg/dl) and over on 2 separate readings.

Type 2 Diabetes can be of hereditary origin. Non-Caucasians are more predisposed to getting it. But the vast majority of people get it due to inadequate lifestyles such obesity, overeating and sedentary lifestyles. A staggering 75% of people with diabetes are obese and inactive . This lends to the worsening of their conditions. I witness this trend every single day in my pharmacy practice. People drop off several prescriptions for diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure, and they sit the entire time in the pharmacy waiting area. When I counsel them about their medications and suggest they might increase the amount of daily walking, their invariable answer is, “I don’t have time.” Sometimes, they drop off their prescriptions and go food shopping; they bring back a cart full of bacon, cookies and other packaged snacks such as popcorn, jugs of soft drinks, pretzels, butter, white bread, and let’s not forget the cigarettes!

People with Type 2 Diabetes may be treated with: medications, either taken by mouth and/or through insulin injections, and by making favorable lifestyle choices . Medications alone without an active lifestyle will never be an efficient way to control diabetes and/or other chronic lifestyle-related diseases. Your doctor has many medication options from which to choose. What is important is to get diabetes under control in order to avoid deadly complications ! Your health is your responsibility, and staying in close contact with your doctor and pharmacist is the only way to avoid diabetes complications and hugely important in keeping your diabetes under control.

The message that I bring you is that, “You are not doomed.” Certainly, you can control diabetes, but you have to be aware of some simple facts and act on them . Inaction will cause these deadly ailments to creep up on you and systematically destroy your internal organs and claim your life prematurely. You can become involved, seriously and consistently, in your health; take the lead and the primary responsibility for managing your health and disease! It is simpler than you think.

If you take charge of this responsibility, you reap the benefits of living your lifespan to the fullest, enjoying the best quality of life. It is very simple. You just have to take charge by starting to apply the reliable, simple, and practical recommendations in LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER FOR DIABETICS AND PRE-DIABETICS

For more detailed information on any of these topics log on to: www.LifestyleMakeoverEbook.com and check out these information packed lifesaving book and e-book volumes: LIFESTYLE MAKEOVER FOR DIABETICS AND PRE-DIABETICS and 4 other e-books: Lifestyle Makeover: Sex, Stress, and Alcohol , Lifestyle Makeover for All Couch Potatoes , Lifestyle Makeover: Defeat High Cholesterol and Blood Pressure , and Lifestyle Makeover for all Tobacco Users . The author of this article is also the author of these volumes

Test your knowledge on these various issues and take a simple True and False quiz by logging on to: www.LifestyleMakeoverEbook.com

Copyright © 2008 by George Tohme All rights reserved.



Rodney

that chick asked:


It runs in my family, and I’ve already inherited anemia from my grandma, and hypothyroidism, so I’m pretty much waiting on the diabetes. Symptoms I should watch out for?

Beatrice

Jane Reynolds asked:


Diabetes 2 affects 85 to 90 per cent of all people with diabetes. Nearly all diabetics got their disease from having an harmful lifestyle but diabetes 2 could as well be genetic. One of two things occurs in diabetes.

The pancreas can?t produce insulin (type 1 diabetes) or else; the cells don?t respond to the insulin correctly and the pancreas produces insufficient insulin for the body?s increased needs (diabetes 2).

The most common diabetes type is diabetes 2. Diabetes 2 affects approximately 95% of all diabetics. Unlike the first type, diabetes 2 makes the body incapable to act in response to insulin.

What is the reason for getting diabetes 1 or diabetes 2? No one knows why people get diabetes. Researchers suggest that diabetes occurs as a viral illness triggers the immune system to destroy the insulin-making cells in the pancreas. Diabetes results from the incapability of the body to produce adequate amount of insulin.

What is insulin? What is the insulin function? Insulin is a hormone that helps the body cells to use the glucose. The insulin is responsible for breaking down the glucose in our blood stream and avoiding the sugar level from coming up.

What is glucose? What is the glucose function? Carbohydrate foods contain glucose. It is the major resource of energy used by the body. Sugar is one of the glucose types. Glucose comes from foods that contain carbohydrates such as potatoes, bread, pasta and rice, fruit and milk.

How is glucose absorbed into the blood stream and provides us energy? After the food is digested, the glucose is released and absorbed into the blood stream . The glucose in the blood stream needs to move into body tissues so that cells can turn it into energy. Additional glucose is stored in the liver or transformed into fat. The fat is being stored in other body tissues.

How to avoid diabetes 2? Although the causes of diabetes 2 are known and in some cases it can be prevented there is no cure for diabetes 2.

Currently, there is. Foods that are high in fat and cholesterol are not suggested to people who would like to be safe from. Further, to be safe from Diabetes 2, take regular exercise. Keep your body active and boost your resistance to other illness and some of the serious complications caused by having diabetes.

Having Diabetes 2 does not merely diminish the body, it could also widen to different parts of the body. Just the once it spreads, it can lead to removal of body parts to prevent the illness from spreading to vital body organs.

While Diabetes 2 worsens, it could cause damages in the heart, kidney and even the eyes. Heart disease, kidney complications and blindness is conditions that you would never want to have and it could come from diabetes.



Francis

Smith & Chen asked:


Anyone newly diagnosed with diabetes will soon find that while there is no cure, there are ways to keep this condition and its potential effects in check. Like a tightrope walker above a crowd, a diabetic must strive to strike a careful balance. In the diabetic’s case, the balancing act involves blood sugar levels and food intake. Carbohydrate control is essential for maintaining the act.

Carbohydrates are found in many foods and are also considered important for a sound diet, even a diabetic’s diet. With this in mind, diabetics often find themselves needing to learn carbohydrate control measures to ensure the intake doesn’t exceed recommended amounts or cause them to fall off balance. The American Diabetes Association recommends that carbohydrates, even for diabetics, account for about 50 to 60 percent of total daily caloric intake. What works for an individual diabetic, however, will go back to that balancing act. If that amount raises blood sugar levels too high, cutting back is likely in order.

Carbohydrates, which turn to glucose in the body, are found in a variety of foods; some are even a little surprising. To help diabetics get a handle on carbohydrate control, points systems, carb counting and even exchange programs have all been set up. What works for one diabetic might not be the best route for another to take. The key in carbohydrate control is to be able to identify the foods that have carbohydrates in the mix and learn to limit or avoid intake depending on how the tightrope walk is going at that moment in time.

The American Diabetes Association has created its own version of the nutrition pyramid that really helps illustrate the continued importance of carbohydrates in a diabetic’s diet. Drawn in the last and largest space of the pyramid, the bread, cereal, rice and pasta family is considered vital for daily nutrition. In a diabetic’s case, however, healthier choices are necessary.

When looking to master carbohydrate control, the association’s simple formula is helpful. It recommends between six and 11 servings from the grain group daily. The catch, however, comes in on the actual serving size. What people tend to eat as a serving and what a real serving actually is tend to be two very different things. For example, a single slice of bread, a quarter of an average size bagel, a half-cup of cooked cereal and third-cup of rice or pasta all qualify as single servings.

To exercise the tightest carbohydrate control possible, it is wise for diabetics to learn which foods contain carbs and what the correct serving sizes are for each item. When making choices about what to eat, it is also smart to go for healthier options. Whole grain breads, pasta and even rice are almost always better for a diabetic than processed choices. This isn’t to say white bread, regular pasta or even a slice of cake can’t be enjoyed once in a while. When the balancing act is kept in check, a little splurging now and again is generally just fine.

Some Basic Diabetes Type Two Info

Diabetes Type Two info is provided here because sometimes accurate information is difficult to find. There are a number of sources for Type 2 diabetes diet info, but some of these are fad diets that may not be helpful and could even be dangerous.

The Diabetes Type Two info provided here is up to date. It is backed by scientific research and applies not only to people who have been diagnosed with type II diabetes, but also to people who have “pre-diabetes”, insulin resistance or a family history of the condition.

Type 2 diabetes is sometimes referred to as adult-onset, maturity-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes. This condition is different from Type 1, insulin dependent, childhood or juvenile diabetes in several ways. First, there are no known preventative measures for Type 1, but Type 2 may be preventable.

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, a hormone that allows glucose to enter and energize the cells. Without insulin, the glucose is “stuck” in the blood stream and cannot be used by the cells.

In type 2 diabetes, the body produces less than normal amounts of insulin and the insulin that is produced is not used properly. Failure of the body to recognize and properly use insulin is referred to as insulin resistance.

According to the diabetes type two info, facts and figures provided by national health organizations, of the 20.8 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with diabetes, 90-95% have type 2. Another 54 million have pre-diabetes.

In pre-diabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2. Without preventative measures, pre-diabetes can eventually lead to type II.

The recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program showed conclusively that changes in diet and increasing physical activity can prevent pre-diabetes from becoming type 2 diabetes. This study is one reason that many people look for type 2 diabetes diet info. It is important to be able to distinguish the fad diets from the healthy diets. The American Diabetes Association is currently working to create more materials to help people understand the difference.

There is one simple way to tell the difference between a fad diet and a healthy diet. A healthy diet is one that you could follow for the rest of your life, without concern about nutritional deficiencies. A healthy diet provides adequate intakes of fat, carbohydrates and protein. Some of the latest type 2 diabetes diet info promotes a “low-carb” diet. The American Diabetes Association has this to say:

“The long-term effects of diets high in protein and low in carbohydrate are unknown. Although such diets may produce short-term weight loss and improved glycemia, it has not been established that weight loss is maintained long-term. The long-term effect of such diets on plasma LDL cholesterol is also a concern.”

The general expert consensus is that in a healthy daily diet 40% of calories should come from carbohydrates, 30% from protein and 30% from fat. You can safely reduce carbs to 35% and increase protein to 35%, but to avoid weight gain and increase in LDL cholesterol, 30% fat is enough.



Tom

Dr John Anne asked:


Read this Article to know all about the Type 2 Diabetes

In Type 2 diabetes the body does not create enough or sufficient insulin. Insulin is the hormone which is important for the body to be able to use sugar. In Type 2 Diabetes the body doesn’t react to the insulin normally.

Glucose is less able to enter the cells and do its work of providing energy. This causes the blood sugar level to go up, making the pancreas produce even more insulin. Finally, the pancreas can wear out from working overtime to produce extra insulin. Then, the pancreas may no longer be able to create enough insulin to keep a person’s blood sugar levels within a normal range.

Children and teens with type 2 diabetes use diet, exercise, and medicines that recover the body’s response to insulin to manage their blood sugar levels.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

Although no one knows exact causes Type 2 diabetes, there appears to be a hereditary component to developing it. In fact, it’s expected that 45% to 80% of children with type 2 diabetes have at least one parent with diabetes and may have a significant family history of this ailment.

Most children and adults who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Excess fat makes it difficult for the cells to react to insulin. And being inactive (lack of physical movement) further decreases the body’s capability to act in response to insulin.

Many years ago, doctors called this type of diabetes adult-onset diabetes because it almost exclusively affected the adults who are overweight. Today, that explanation is no longer correct. Today more kids and teens are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, possibly because more kids and teens are overweight.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms:

The following symptoms are the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes. But the symptoms may differ from one person to another. Symptoms may include:

* frequent infections that are not simply healed

* high levels of sugar in the blood and urine when tested

* abnormal thirst

* frequent urination

* intense hunger but loss of weight

* blurred vision

* extreme weakness

* irritability and mood changes

* tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet

Some people who have type 2 diabetes show no symptoms. Type 2 diabetes Symptoms may be mild and almost invisible, or easy to confuse with signs of aging.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always discuss with your physician or doctor for a diagnosis.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes:

Precise treatment for type 2 diabetes will be determined by your physician or doctor based on:

* your age, overall health, and medical records

* level of the disease

* your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies

* your attitude or preference

The goal of treatment is to keep normal blood sugar levels.

Importance is on control of blood sugar (glucose) by observing the levels, habitual physical activity, meal planning, and regular healthcare. Treatment of diabetes is an enduring process of management and education that comprises not only the person with diabetes, but also healthcare experts and family members.

Often, Type 2 diabetes can be controlled through losing weight, improved nutrition, and exercise only. Though, in some cases, these procedures are not sufficient and either oral medications and/or insulin must be used. Treatment often consists of:

* right diet

* weight management

* a suitable exercise program

* regular foot examination

* Oral medications and/or insulin replacement therapy, as directed by your physician

There are a variety of types of medications that may be used to cure type 2 diabetes when the way of life changes such as diet, exercise, and weight loss. Oral medications of numerous dissimilar types exist, with each type working in a different mode to lower blood sugar. One medication may be united with another medication to improve blood sugar control. When oral medications are no longer useful, insulin may be needed.

New medications for treating diabetes are in progress. GLP-1 agonists are one of the latest kinds of medications. GLP-1 agonists work by stimulating insulin production by the pancreas, slowing the emptying of food from the stomach, and reducing the production of glucagon in the pancreas (glucagon is a hormone developed by the pancreas that stimulate release of glucose by the liver).

Regular monitoring of the hemoglobin A1c levels

The hemoglobin A1c test (also called HbA1c test) shows the average amount of sugar in the blood over the previous three months. The outcome or result will indicate if the blood sugar level is under control. The frequency of HbA1c testing will be determined by your doctor. It is recommended that testing occur at least twice a year if the blood sugar level is in the objective range and stable, and more commonly if the blood sugar level is unsteady.

Untreated or inappropriately-treated diabetes can cause troubles with the kidneys, legs, feet, eyes, heart, nerves, and blood flow, which could lead to kidney failure, gangrene, amputation, blindness, or stroke. Thus, it is important to pursue a strict treatment plan.

The question is who is at risk of type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes or insulin resistance often goes side by side with central obesity (excess body fat that is concentrated around the waist), high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This group of disorders is occasionally known as syndrome X or metabolic syndrome.

Factors that amplify the person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes consist of:

* Person elder than 55;

* Person overweight or fat;

* Having an family member with diabetes (may be parent, brother or sister);

* having had gestational diabetes during pregnancy;

* Having had a borderline blood glucose outcome; and having had a heart attack, or having heart ailment or high blood pressure.



Jacqueline