If you encounter specific health issues and have a medical history, you may wonder what type 2 diabetes is. Type 2 diabetes is a disease that prevents your body from using insulin to convert sugar into fat. This disease is common in old- or middle-aged people. That is why; we also call it adult-onset diabetes. However, it can also affect kids and young adults if they are overweight.
Medical History
People who develop type 2 diabetes may have certain medical conditions that can lead to this disease. The reasons might include genes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, excessive glucose secretion, broken beta cell, and ineffective coordination between cells. However, most patients with type 2 diabetes are people 45 years of age and older.
You may also have a family history: your brother, sister, parent, or grandparent may have the disease. The risk factor increases if you have a particular ethnicity; Africa, America, Alaska, Asia, and others.
Is type 2 diabetes controllable?
Your diet and activities can cause type 2 diabetes. Unhealthy food, sluggish behavior, and an inactive lifestyle create type 2 diabetes. The excellent news is that type 2 diabetes is not a fatal disease. Studies and research have revealed that you can avoid type 2 diabetes by modifying your lifestyle – consuming a healthy diet and performing regular physical activity.
How to avoid type 2 diabetes?
Several ways and lifestyle modifications help you avoid type 2 diabetes and normalize your blood sugar.
Healthy living
A healthy lifestyle is key to several health-related problems that ultimately cause diabetes. Your diet, physical activities, and monitoring your blood sugar levels is your first step. A lifestyle change also includes losing weight, which often becomes the root cause of type 2 diabetes.
Healthy food
It is better to consult your dietitian or nutritionist for a healthy diet. They can tell you the correct course of action and make a diet you must follow for the rest of your life. The general rule is to eat fewer calories and say no to refined carbs like bakery items and sweets. By consuming more fiber, vegetables, and fruits, you can keep your sugar levels under control.
Exercise
Daily exercise keeps your body active. You must exercise frequently and moderately to control or prevent type 2 diabetes. Start warming up and incorporating light exercises and physical activities like running, jogging, or swimming for about 30 minutes to strengthen and improve your heart and hormones that contribute to insulin use.
Also, do a combination of cardio exercise and strength training like yoga to get better results. However, taking snacks before exercising is better for maintaining sugar levels. Rigorous exercise may cause life-threatening events for people who take medicines to lower their sugar levels. Exercise can rapidly cause your sugar levels to decline when you are on medication for diabetes.
Monitor your blood sugar level regularly.
It is necessary to check your blood sugar level if you have diabetes. Ask your doctor to tell you how often to check your blood sugar level and follow his guidelines.
Medication
You can control type 2 diabetes through medication that your doctor suggests. However, it does not mean you can eliminate it. It is a lifetime disease that you can prevent, but you cannot get rid of it once you get it.
Here is a list of some known medicines that can normalize your sugar levels. Ask your doctor about the ones that you think might benefit you. Being proactive with your doctor and your health keeps you informed and helps you get the best outcome possible. You are the captain of your team, and your doctor is the best player on your team. You must keep the lines of communication open and maintain a great relationship with them.
Meglitinides
This medicine stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin. Meglitinides work quickly but for a short time. It sometimes lowers your sugar level to a dangerous level; therefore, watch your sugar levels if you take this medicine. It also causes weight gain.
Metformin
Doctors give Metformin to type 2 diabetes patients. It decreases the secretion of glucose in the liver and improves your body’s response to insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the human body does not respond to insulin; this medicine increases your body’s sensitivity to insulin. Metformin also has some side effects. It may cause diarrhea and nausea, but these symptoms will go away in time. You can take it with other oral medications or insulin.
DPP-4 Inhibitors
These medicines reduce the sugar level of your blood. They do not cause side effects like low blood sugar levels or weight gain, but you may encounter joint pain or pancreatic issues after taking them.
Sulfonylureas
This medicine rapidly increases the secretion of insulin in your body. However, it has some side effects, including obesity and low sugar levels.
GLP-1 receptor Agonists
You can inject this medicine into your body like insulin. It lowers your blood sugar level by slowing down your digestion. This hormone leads to weight loss and causes nausea and pancreatic issues.
SGLT2 inhibitors
This medicine prevents blood from absorbing sugar. The SGLT2 inhibitor excretes sugar through urine from your body. The drug also has side effects but reduces the chances of a heart attack and stroke. The side effects include urinary tract infection, vaginal yeast infection, and low blood pressure.
Insulin
It is a protein hormone you might have heard about several times from your acquaintances who have diabetes. Insulin normalizes blood sugar levels. It keeps your blood sugar level from getting too high or low. As people with type 2 diabetes are insulin resistant, insulin helps them to use sugar.
However, insulin does not directly treat people with type 2 diabetes. Doctors prescribe them oral medications first. If they don’t show positive signs after oral medications, the doctor suggests using insulin. Several types of insulin can treat diabetes. Here are some consequential types:
Rapid Acting Insulin
This insulin works rapidly within 15 minutes of injecting into your body and reaches the peak of its function in an hour. It controls your sugar levels for 3 to 4 hours.
Short-Acting Insulin
This insulin works 30 minutes after injecting it and keeps working for 3 to 6 hours.
Intermediate-Acting Insulin
This insulin works 2 to 4 hours after injecting it and continues working for 12 to 18 hours. You can take this Insulin two times a day.
Long-Acting Insulin
It is long-lasting on the insulins and works for 24 hours. However, it works after several hours of dosage.
Ultimately your doctor decides the type and quantity of medicine you need to control type 2 diabetes. Always talk with your doctor about type 2 diabetes, ask questions, and make suggestions. Your doctor welcomes your input because it helps them make the best decision for you. But after asking questions and making suggestions, follow your doctor’s directions because they are the expert, not you.
The Last Word on Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is not a deadly disease. You can control its effects and outcomes if you follow a healthy diet and incorporate a healthy lifestyle. The medicines work wonders when you take them regularly and follow your doctor’s advice.
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