Understanding Type 2 Diabetes: A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Your Health
- Vitality Fitness and Rehab
- Oct 10, 2023
- 4 min read
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, accounting for 85-90% of individuals with diabetes. Many cases remain undiagnosed for years. It occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce enough of this essential hormone. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and available management strategies is crucial for effectively controlling and living well with type 2 diabetes. In this blog, we will explore the various aspects of type 2 diabetes, including its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and lifestyle modifications that can help manage the condition.
Causes, Risk Factors and symptoms:
Understanding the root causes and risk factors is pivotal:
1. Genetic Factors: A family history of type 2 diabetes can increase an individual's risk of developing the condition.
2. Obesity: Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen, is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In fact, over 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are classified as overweight or obese.
3. Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity can contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance, thereby increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
4. Diet: Consuming a diet high in processed foods, sugary beverages, and saturated fats can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Early Symptoms include:
1. Frequent Urination: Increased thirst and urination can be early signs of type 2 diabetes.
2. Fatigue: Feeling tired and lacking energy, even with sufficient rest, may indicate high blood sugar levels.
3. Increased Hunger: Experiencing intense hunger, particularly shortly after eating, can be a symptom of poorly controlled diabetes.
4. Unexplained Weight Loss: Sudden weight loss without changes in diet or physical activity may be a warning sign of type 2 diabetes.
5. Blurred Vision: High blood sugar levels can affect the lenses in the eyes, causing blurry vision.
Seeking Professional Support:
If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is important to establish a relationship with a healthcare professional specializing in diabetes management. They can provide individualized guidance, help you create a diabetes management plan, and monitor your progress.
Progressions / Comorbidities Associated with Type-2 Diabetes
There are several potential progressions associated with type 2 diabetes, including:
Hypertension: This refers to increased blood pressure.
Hypercholesterolemia: This occurs when the function of HDLs (high-density lipoproteins) is compromised, leading to a rise in cholesterol levels. This increase in cholesterol levels further increases the risk of coronary heart disease.
Coronary heart disease: This is caused by the accumulation of fatty plaque in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscles. As a result, effective delivery of oxygen to the myocardium is hindered.
Retinopathy: Diabetes is the main cause of blindness in the working-age population.
Peripheral neuropathy: High blood sugar affects the functioning of the peripheral nerves, often resulting in numbness in the feet.
Diabetic Emergencies
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): This is otherwise known as a 'hypo' and is extremely dangerous. Look out for symptoms such as agitation, sweating, hunger, trembling, confusion, aggression, and irrational behavior. Immediate action should be taken. If mild, consuming fruit juice, an energy drink, or a carbohydrate snack usually helps. If the symptoms are severe and the person is unconscious, a first aider should be sought or the emergency services should be called on 999.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar): High blood sugar usually results in excessive urination, thirst, blurred vision, restlessness, and possibly vomiting. The person should seek medical advice.
Type 2 diabetes can, in some cases, be controlled by diet and exercise alone. However, the addition of drugs and insulin may be required.
Managing Type-2 Diabetes
Effectively managing the condition involves:
1. Medications: Some individuals with type 2 diabetes may require oral medications or insulin injections to control blood sugar levels.
2. Healthy Eating: Adopt a balanced diet since type 2 diabetes can, in some cases, be controlled by diet and exercise alone.
3. Weight Management: If overweight, losing even a small amount of weight can significantly improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control. Consult with a healthcare professional who can provide dietary advice and structure to achieve a calorie deficit (consuming fewer calories from foods than you burn day to day) in order to achieve weight loss.
4. Blood Sugar Monitoring: Regularly monitor your blood sugar levels to understand how different foods, activities, and medications affect your body.
5. Regular Physical Activity: Participating in regular, physical exercise with diabetes offers numerous benefits, including improved blood sugar control, increased insulin sensitivity, effective weight management, reduced blood pressure, and a decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
Self-Care and Lifestyle Modifications:
1. Stress Management: Chronic stress can impact blood sugar levels. Practice stress reduction techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or engaging in hobbies.
2. Regular Sleep Patterns: Aim for an adequate sleep duration and maintain consistent sleep patterns to support overall health and glycemic control.
3. Smoking Cessation: Smoking increases the risk of developing complications associated with diabetes. Seek support to quit smoking.
4. Alcohol Moderation: Limit alcohol consumption and avoid binge drinking, as it can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
5. Regular Medical Check-ups: Regularly visit your healthcare provider for comprehensive diabetes management, including screenings for complications
Exercise Guidelines and Blood Sugar Levels
Exercise Recommendations:
The ACSM guidelines for exercising with type 2 diabetes include a frequency of 4-7 days per week, which should consist of aerobic work at around 40-70% of maximum heart rate for a period of 20-60 minutes. It is also recommended to engage in full body resistance training with lower resistance and higher repetitions 2-3 times per week. However, it is important to remember that these recommendations may vary based on individual factors such as eating times, monitoring blood sugar levels, potential foot damage, and the need to carry drinks or snacks.
Blood Sugar levels:
Blood sugar levels should be monitored during exercise as there are times when exercise may not be suitable. Each person with diabetes is different, and they need to learn how their body reacts to exercise. Seeking medical advice is always recommended, but a loose guideline can be found in the table below.
Time of day | Blood sugar levels |
Ideal | 4 - 7 mmol/L |
After a meal | < 9 mmol/L |
Eat before exercise | < 5 mmol/L |
Do not exercise | > 13 mmol/L |
In summary:
By comprehending the causes, symptoms, and management strategies, individuals with type 2 diabetes can proactively handle their health, ensuring a fulfilling and well-managed life.
Live, move and feel better, for longer.
You are able to find videos on Type-2 Diabetes and some exercises for maintaining a healthy strong body on our social media channel here: Facebook , Instagram
If you have any further questions, please email us at enquiries@vitalityrehabfit.co.uk. Alternatively, our team will be posting a blog each week discussing various conditions and the aging process which you can get emailed to you weekly by going to our website here and entering your email.
Sources of information
Diabetes UK
NICE
NHS Choices
DESMOND
