Type 2 Diabetes Has Become A Major Disease: Know About Its Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

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Diabetes is a deadly life-long disease that affects the way your body handles sugar in your blood, especially glucose. A huge number of diabetes patients are affected by the Type 2 one.

How it leads to diabetes?

The pancreas in our body produces insulin, which enables the body cells to transform glucose from the food we eat into energy.

Now, those having type 2 diabetes can make insulin but their body cells fail to use it the way they should. This leads to insulin resistance. The pancreas first tries to create more insulin to help the glucose get into the cells, but eventually fails in the mission, leading to a build-up of sugar in the blood.

Causes Of Type 2 Diabetes or T2DM:
Besides genes that affect the way the body makes insulin, extra weight is another reason that leads to diabetes, particularly if you have gained excess fat around your waist.

Nowadays, type 2 diabetes can affect children and teens as well. These apart, metabolic syndrome whereby people have several conditions like high blood glucose, high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc., and excessive sugar from the liver are among other causes.

If insulin-making cells send wrong amount of insulin at a wrong time, it can also make the blood sugar go haywire.

Factors That Increase The Risk Of Getting Diabetes:
There are certain factors that make diabetes more likely. Among these factors, age, family history of diabetes and ethnicity have a high rate of making a person get diabetes.

However, in case of medical conditions like prediabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, low HDL or good cholesterol, high triglycerides, depression, smoking, etc., your doctor can advise you to put things in order.

Symptoms And Diagnosis Of T2DM:
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so mild that often you may not be able to notice them. Here are some symptoms that will help you to be more careful next time:

• Frequent thirst
  
• Frequent urination
  
• Vision getting blurred
  
• Feeling fatigued
  
• Wounds taking more time to heal
  
• Numbness in hands or feet

Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can be done through tests like A1C, fasting plasma glucose or oral glucose tolerance test.

Long-term Effects Of Diabetes:
In the long term, diabetic tendencies can cause a serious damage to your organs like heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and also pregnancy.

Making A Difference:
The following steps will help you be less prone to type 2 diabetes if you follow them religiously:

• Losing Extra Weight: Even a drop in seven to 10 per cent of your weight can make you less vulnerable to type 2 diabetes.
  
• Getting Active: Move your muscles as much as you can, so that they can use the insulin. Brisk walk for half an hour can reduce the risk by much.
  
• Take Proper Food: Avoid red and processed meat, highly processed carbohydrates, sugary drinks and trans fats.
  
• Give Up Smoking: A must to lead a life free from diabetes.
  
• Keep A Check On Glucose Levels: Check glucose levels and meet your doctor regularly
  
• Take your diabetes medicines at the proper time
  

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.