Imagine yourself living a normal life, eating your favorite meals, and doing your usual activities, and suddenly, strange symptoms appear: extreme thirst, endless hunger, and a constant feeling of fatigue. Let us get closer and learn about this disease, and what are its causes, to begin the journey of prevention and encourage all those facing this disease to move forward on the journey towards a better healthy life.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes occurs as a result of chronic high blood sugar levels. This is due to a defect in how the body uses glucose, which is its main energy source, for one of two main reasons:
- Decrease in insulin secretionInsulin is a hormone necessary to transport glucose from the bloodstream into cells.
- Insulin resistanceEven with sufficient insulin, the body's cells may become resistant to its action, hindering glucose absorption and use.
As a result of these factors, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream instead of entering the cells, but what are the factors causing this disease problem?
You can read the article if you want to know Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
Causes of type 2 diabetes
There are several factors that contribute and increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including:
- Overweight or obesity: The accumulation of excess body fat, especially around the abdomen, is one of the most important risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
- Lack of physical activity: A sedentary lifestyle impairs the body's ability to use insulin effectively, leading to high blood sugar levels and the development of insulin resistance.
- Unhealthy diet: Eating foods high in saturated fats, processed sugars, and refined grains negatively affects blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, among other causes.
- Genetic factors: The risk of developing the disease increases significantly if there are previous cases of type 2 diabetes in the family, especially among parents or siblings.
- the age: As age increases, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases, becoming more common after the age of forty-five.
- Pre-diabetes: It is a condition that affects some individuals and they may not notice it, in which blood sugar levels rise above the normal range, but they are not high enough to diagnose diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes: Women who develop gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
- Cardiovascular diseases: High blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome: It is a condition that affects women and is characterized by symptoms, such as irregular menstruation and weight gain, and is considered a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance.
Racial factors, residential areas, and lifestyles also play an influential role in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
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In addition, important symptoms may be observed, such as:
- Dry mouth.
- Itching and fungal infections in the urinary and reproductive systems.
- Slow healing of wounds and bruises.
- Blurred vision or difficulty concentrating.
- Headache, and sometimes it develops symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting.
- Skin problems, such as inflammation, itching, and skin discoloration.
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Is type 2 diabetes dangerous?
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that requires special care and attention.
Here are some of these complications:
- Nerve damage: Persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage, causing numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet and legs.
- Diabetic ketoacidosisIt is a serious condition that develops acutely as a result of severe insulin deficiency and very high blood sugar levels.
- Renal impairment: Uncontrolled high blood sugar levels can damage the kidneys in the long term.
- Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in the eye, threatening eyesight and seeing clearly.
- Diabetic foot: Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can reduce blood flow to the feet, which predisposes to the appearance of ulcers and infections in the lower extremities.
- Chronic diseases: High blood sugar is a risk factor that increases the possibility of cardiovascular disease and stroke, which can be life-threatening.
- Pregnancy problems: High blood sugar during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage or premature birth.
- Sexual problems: High blood sugar can lead to erectile dysfunction in men, and decreased sexual desire in men and women.
You can read an article: Normal blood sugar level after eating
When do complications of type 2 diabetes appear?
There is no specific timing for the appearance of type 2 diabetes complications, as it is like a long journey that may be accompanied by the appearance of complications in the short and long term.
It is worth noting that diabetes complications are not inevitable, but can be prevented or delayed by following a comprehensive approach to managing the disease, which includes:
- Maintain blood sugar levels within the range targeted by your doctor.
- Follow a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
- Exercise regularly, for at least 30 minutes, most days of the week.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Quit smoking.
- Conduct periodic medical examinations regularly.
- Adherence to drug treatment and regular check-ups.
Can a type 2 diabetic be cured?
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease for which there is no cure yet.
However, this does not mean surrendering to this disease. Rather, it can be controlled and greatly improved by following effective steps that include lifestyle changes and appropriate medical interventions that include adherence to prescribed drug treatment and periodic follow-up.
Significant weight loss in cases of obesity, specifically losing 15-20% of body weight, also plays an important role in restoring near-normal levels of blood sugar and reducing the need for medications.
Complications of diabetes mellitus II
Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications if blood sugar levels are not well controlled. Complications include:
- Long-term chronic complications such as cardiovascular diseases such as angina, heart attacks, and strokes. Nerve damage, especially in the extremities, can occur, causing numbness, pain, or loss of sensation.
- It may lead to kidney failure, and therefore requires dialysis or a total transplant.
- You can also develop eye problems known as retinopathy, causing poor vision or blindness.
- Foot problems due to poor blood circulation and nerve damage, which leads to ulcers and difficulty in healing wounds, and in severe cases it may lead to amputation.
- Skin problems such as bacterial and fungal infections.
- Hearing loss.
There are some acute short-term complications, including severe hyperglycemia, such as lactin hyperosmolar syndrome, and low blood sugar, especially when using inappropriate antidiabetic or insulin medications. In addition, the patient suffers from depression and anxiety due to daily living with the disease.
Tips on how to live with type 2 diabetes
There are a set of tips that must be followed to be able to live with type 2 diabetes, and it requires following a healthy lifestyle and daily discipline, and the most prominent of these tips are:
- Follow a healthy diet, eat regular and balanced meals, focus on foods rich in fiber such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains, while reducing simple sugars and refined starches, avoid eating saturated fats and fried foods, and make sure to drink enough water.
- Practice physical activity regularly, by walking briskly for at least half an hour daily, and doing strength exercises twice a week to improve insulin sensitivity, and consult a doctor before starting any exercise program.
- Take medications or insulin prescribed by the doctor, and do not stop the medication without consulting the doctor.
- Use a home glucose meter, monitor the readings and record them for review with the doctor, while recognizing the symptoms of high and low blood sugar.
- It is necessary to examine the feet daily to look for any wounds or changes, wash and dry the feet well, avoid walking barefoot, and visit the podiatrist regularly.
- It is important to use relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation to control stress and psychological pressures, and to seek psychological support when needed.
- Conduct periodic examinations, such as examining the eyes, feet, and kidneys regularly, while monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol.
Ways to prevent type 2 diabetes
To prevent type 2 diabetes, you must maintain a healthy weight. Reducing excess weight can reduce the risk of developing the disease by up to 60%. If you are overweight, you should aim to lose between 5 and 7%. In addition, be sure to follow the following:
- Follow a healthy, balanced diet, by eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, and reducing the consumption of refined sugars and starches, while staying away from saturated fats and fast food. It is important to choose small, regular meals to maintain blood sugar balance.
- Practice physical activity regularly, including 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity such as walking, swimming, or cycling.
- The importance of reducing sitting for long periods.
- The importance of monitoring sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, by conducting periodic examinations, especially if you have a family history or risk factors, while monitoring pre-diabetic indicators and taking immediate steps.
- Quit smoking, as smoking increases the risk of diabetes and its complications, and quitting smoking improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin.
- Get enough sleep. Insufficient or intermittent sleep affects hormonal balance and leads to insulin resistance.
- It is necessary to control stress, as constant stress increases blood sugar levels.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does a type 2 diabetic live?
The average life expectancy of a patient with type 2 diabetes depends on many factors, including the age of diagnosis, the extent of control over sugar levels, and the lifestyle followed. However, studies indicate that patients with type 2 diabetes lose between 5 and 10 years of their life compared to those without diabetes, especially if the disease is not under control. Despite this, adherence to treatment, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and regular follow-up examinations significantly reduces complications.
When does diabetes become fatal?
Diabetes can be fatal when it is not controlled well, leading to serious complications such as heart disease, strokes, kidney failure, or severe infections that do not heal and lead to blood poisoning, in addition to severe complications such as sudden high or low blood sugar levels, which may cause coma or death if not treated immediately. Also, continuing high blood sugar for long periods without treatment increases the risk of permanent damage to the vital organs, which threatens the patient’s life.
What is the risk stage of diabetes?
The risk stage of diabetes is when complications, whether chronic or acute, begin to appear due to uncontrolled high blood sugar levels for long periods, such as nerve damage, kidney problems, visual impairment, and cardiovascular disease. It also includes sudden episodes of high or low blood sugar that lead to loss of consciousness or coma. The pre-amputation stage, the appearance of chronic foot ulcers, or severe kidney function impairment are considered among the most dangerous stages. Therefore, early detection, careful follow-up, and regular treatment are necessary to avoid reaching this stage.
Type 2 diabetes is a journey, not a destination. With every positive step you take, you get closer to achieving your goals.
Medical sources
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