TIPSHEALTHUPDATE : What is type 2 diabetes?
DEFINITION
WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is able to produce adequate insulin, but the body’s cells cannot use insulin efficiently to convert glucose into energy. This condition is called insulin resistance . As a result, blood sugar accumulates too much in the body.
If your blood sugar is kept high, you can run the risk of experiencing various dangerous complications of diabetes that affect the nervous system, heart, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, and gums and teeth.
HOW COMMON IS TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS?
Type 2 diabetes is a sugar disease that most people experience. The CDC reports that around 95 percent of diabetes cases in the world are type 2 diabetes.In general, diabetes can affect all people of all ages, including children. However, type 2 diabetes usually starts at the age of adults and the elderly.
Decreasing body metabolic factors and lifestyles during youth are the strongest reasons why adults and the elderly are at high risk of developing this disease.
This disease cannot be cured. However, changing your lifestyle to be healthier can be an effective way to avoid this disease in the future.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS AND SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 2 DIABETES?
Type 2 diabetes often shows no significant symptoms. In fact, quite a lot of people don’t even realize that they have been affected by this disease for years.
Even so, here are some typical signs and symptoms of diabetes that you should watch out for.
- Often feel thirsty
- Feel hungry fast
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Wounds that are slow to recover
- Body weight drops dramatically for no apparent reason
- Limp, lethargic, and not powerful
- Blurry vision
- Pain or numbness in the feet and hands
- Easy to get infected, whether it’s on the skin, gums and mouth, or in the genital area
- Itching in the groin area or genital area
- Blackened skin, especially in the armpit folds. neck and groin.
WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?
CAUSE
WHAT CAUSES TYPE 2 DIABETES?
The increasing need for insulin makes the beta cells of the pancreas work harder. As a result, pancreatic beta cells actually are not able to respond to changes in blood glucose in the body properly. This causes insulin to not work properly.
In the end there is a lot of glucose that cannot be absorbed by the cells of the body and flow in the blood. When sugar cannot enter cells, blood sugar levels increase high. If this condition is allowed to continue it can cause hyperglycemia .
Insulin resistance alone can be caused by many things, including:
- Overweight or obese. Increased fat makes the body experience insulin resistance so that it is difficult to use insulin properly.
- Genetic factors. If your grandparents, parents, or siblings have this disease, you are also at high risk for managing it too.
RISK FACTORS
WHO IS AT RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES?
Apart from that, experts believe that there are some things that clearly increase risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as:
1. FAMILY HISTORY
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is greater if your parents or siblings have type 2 diabetes. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association , compared to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes has a very strong relationship with family history and descent.
Experts suspect that there are special genes that parents bring to the next generation. However, until now experts are still searching for which genes carry the inherent nature of this disease.
2. AGE
The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after 45 years of age. This may be because people at this age tend to be less mobile, lose muscle mass, and gain weight as they age.
In addition, the aging process also results in decreased pancreatic beta cell function as an insulin producer. However, type 2 diabetes can also increase dramatically in adolescents, and early adulthood because of unhealthy lifestyle factors.
3. WEIGHT
Being overweight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association also says the same. In its official website, obese people are at risk 80 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who have the ideal body weight.
This happens because the thicker the fat tissue, the more immune the cells are to insulin. Also, if your body stores fat on the stomach, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is greater than if your body stores fat in other parts, such as the hips and thighs.
4. A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE
Sedentari is a behavior pattern of minimal physical activity or physical movement. In fact, physical activity helps you control weight, uses glucose as energy, and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.
Therefore, the more you are passive, the greater your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
5. PREDIABETES
Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. If not treated, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes.
6. PREGNANCY DIABETES
If you experience diabetes during pregnancy ( gestational diabetes ), your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases. If you give birth to a baby that weighs more than 4 kilograms, your baby is also at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in his adult life.
7. POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS)
PCOS is closely related to insulin resistance. As explained above, if you have experienced insulin resistance, your risk of developing diabetes will also increase.
A number of other medical conditions such as pancreatitis, Cushing’s syndrome, and glucagonoma are also reported to increase the risk of diabetes.
8. CERTAIN MEDICINES
Some drugs that are used to treat various health problems can also affect blood sugar levels, which ultimately causes diabetes. Especially if you have diabetes or are at high risk of experiencing it.
Steroid drugs, statins, diuretics, and beta-blockers are several types of drugs that are known to affect blood sugar levels. Please consult a doctor for more information.
MEDICINE & MEDICINE
WHAT ARE THE TYPE 2 DIABETES MEDICATIONS THAT ARE OFTEN USED?
Here are some things that doctors will generally recommend to control your blood sugar.
1. A HEALTHY DIET
There are no specific rules for diets for people who have diabetes. However, doctors will usually ask you to pay more attention to the intake of food you consume everyday. Make sure that your food contains balanced nutrition and nutrition which includes carbohydrates, proteins, good fats, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.
The doctor will also ask you to avoid high-sugar foods. Remember, not eliminate it completely, but reduce your daily sugar intake. You can consult a nutritionist to help you arrange your healthy diet.
2. SPORTS
In addition to regulating your diet, you should also exercise regularly (3-4 times a week for approximately 30 minutes) and increase physical activity. This is because both are effective for helping to control sugar levels in your blood.
No need to make a target for grandiose sports. Doing various physical activities of mild to moderate intensity is enough to help control your blood sugar. Some choices of good physical activity for diabetics (the name for people with diabetes) are walking, swimming, cycling, running, yoga, aerobics, and so on.
However, before and having difficulty exercising or doing other physical activities, make sure you always check blood sugar, huh. Also make sure you regularly check your feet and eyes to prevent future complications.
3. REGULARLY TAKE MEDICATIONIf the two methods above don’t work, the doctor will usually prescribe diabetes medications to help control your blood sugar levels. The doctor may give only one type of medication or give a combination of drugs.
Consult with your doctor what are the side effects of the drug and what to do if side effects arise. One of the most common side effects of the drug is weakness due to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). For first aid, take warm sweet tea then see a doctor immediately.
4. INSULIN THERAPY
It should be understood that not all diabetics need insulin therapy . Usually, doctors will recommend patients to do this therapy if the diabetes drug has not been so effective in reducing blood sugar.
Insulin therapy can be given in the short term, especially when diabetics are experiencing stress. You can use insulin therapy through an injection, an insulin pen, or an insulin pump.
Please consult a doctor to find out the dosage and how long you need this therapy to control your blood sugar.
TREATMENT AT HOME
WHAT ARE THE LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO OVERCOME TYPE 2 DIABETES?
- Keep your blood sugar level normal with a target of fasting blood sugar (GDP) <100 mg / dL and blood sugar 2 hours after meals (post prandial) <140 mg / dL.
- Regular exercise and a healthy diet specifically for diabetes.
- Try to have a normal weight with a target body mass index of 18.5 or less than 23.
- Make sure the food you consume contains balanced nutrition which includes fiber, carbohydrates, protein, good fats, vitamins and minerals.
- Avoid foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt.
- Don’t smoke and reduce alcoholic beverages.
FOOT CARE FOR DIABETICS
Foot care that you can do independently is as follows:
- Always wear footwear, including in sand and in water
- Check your feet every day on a regular basis, for example before each bed, to see if there are flaky skin, redness, or sores
- Check footwear before wearing. Are there gravel or other objects that can cause injury.
- Cut nails regularly
- Keep your feet clean and not wet. If the skin is dry, use a moisturizer.
- Shoes may not be too narrow or loose. Don’t use high heels.
- If there are calluses (calluses) or eyelets, thin them regularly.
- Do not use pillows or bottles of hot water or stones for feet. Numb feet cannot feel heat or pain so if there is a burn or a scratch, chances are that you are not aware of it.
ROUTINELY CONSULT A DOCTOR
- Check the skin and bones on the soles of the feet and feet.
- Check if your feet are numb.
- Check your blood pressure.
- Check the back of your eyes using a special light tool.
- Complete the A1C test (every 6 months if your diabetes is well controlled)