What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes happens when your body typically maintains high blood sugar levels. When your body is unable to use insulin in its intended manner, it results in a chronic condition called type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone tasked with carrying glucose to your cells to initiate energy production. If you have type 2 diabetes, insulin cannot function adequately, so glucose remains in your blood, leading to a blood sugar level spike.
According to the World Health Organization (EHO), normal fasting blood sugar levels range from 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Lifestyle changes are recommended when the levels are between 100 and 125 mg/dL, and diabetes is diagnosed if they reach 126 mg/dL or higher. Ref
How it Differs from Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in no insulin production altogether. However, Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not respond to insulin. In this case, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to overcome resistance.
How Common is Type 2 Diabetes in India?
Type 2 diabetes is spreading like a wildfire in India. Nearly 77 million people in India are suffering from type 2 diabetes, and one-third of this number (25 million) are prediabetics (on the verge of developing diabetes).(Ref)
India accounts for a major chunk of the world’s diabetes population, earning itself the title ‘diabetes capital of the world’. By 2045, the number of Indians suffering from type 2 diabetes is expected to rise to 134 million. (Ref)
What are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes vary in intensity from mild to severe. Every second person with diabetes in India is unaware of their condition because they cannot recognize the early signs of diabetes. (Ref) The symptoms of diabetes include:
- Heightened sense of thirst – Diabetics experience a persistent feeling of thirst, which leads to more fluid intake than usual.
- Urinating frequently – An urge to urinate frequently, particularly at night, because of excess sugar being excreted through urine.
- Increased hunger – Since the body cannot use glucose for energy production sufficiently, you experience a feeling of constant hunger.
- Unexplained weight loss – Your body breaks down fat and muscle for energy production due to a lack of insulin.
- Feeling worn out or exhausted – Feeling unusually tired due to inadequate glucose utilization.
- Blurry vision – A sudden rise or dip in blood sugar levels can affect the eye lens and cause blurred vision.
- Slow healing of wounds or cuts – Poor blood circulation can make it longer for wounds to heal.
- Getting frequent infections – Abnormal blood sugar levels can make you more susceptible to infections, particularly in the skin and urinary tract.
- Numbness in your hands and feet – High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage, which, in turn, can result in a tingling sensation.
What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?
The primary cause of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance. In this condition, the body’s cells become unresponsive to the effects of insulin, a hormone that helps glucose enter cells from the blood for energy production. The body reacts by producing more insulin to overcome this resistance. However, with time, the body cannot keep up with the increased insulin production, causing your blood sugar levels to rise.
Other factors responsible for type 2 diabetes can be genetic or lifestyle-related. Let’s dive deep into the contributing causes of diabetes.
- Genetics – If your family has a history of diabetes, you cannot escape it, most likely due to genetic predisposition.
- Obesity – Excess body fat (visceral fat mostly) can produce hormones and inflammatory substances that cause insulin resistance.
- Poor diet – Eating highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, sugar-rich beverages, high-calorie meals, and unhealthy fats increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Sedentary lifestyle – Not being physically active can mess with your insulin production.
- Side effects of certain medications – Some pills can interfere with your insulin levels and contribute to abnormal blood sugar levels.
- Hormonal changes – Hormonal disorders can affect insulin regulation and increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Poor sleep and stress – Stress and sleep disorders can negatively affect insulin sensitivity and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
How is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?
Doctors conduct physical examinations, enquire about medical history, and perform lab tests to measure blood sugar levels and diagnose type 2 diabetes. Doctors usually perform the following blood tests.
- Fasting plasma glucose test – This test is usually done in the morning on an empty stomach, where you have not consumed any drink or food for at least 8 hours.
- Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test – With the help of this test, doctors figure out your average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months.
- Oral glucose tolerance test – Doctors measure blood sugar levels before and 2 hours after consuming a sugary drink.
- Random plasma glucose test – Doctors can perform this test at any time to measure your blood sugar levels.
What is the Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes?
It is possible to manage type 2 diabetes by making changes to your lifestyle and adhering to medication, which can help regulate blood sugar levels. Key components of treatment include:
- Lifestyle modifications – Don’t follow a sedentary lifestyle and be physically active.
- Medicine treatment – Seek medical advice from a doctor to target blood sugar levels. Your doctor may prescribe oral medicines or insulin injections, depending on the severity of your condition.
- Regular blood sugar monitoring – Your doctor will ask you to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly to track them and stay ahead of your condition.
- Regular medical checkups—It is important to track your progress and adjust medications and treatment accordingly to manage your diabetes appropriately.
Exercise for Type 2 Diabetes
Exercising can benefit your body and keep your blood sugar levels in control. Here’s what exercise can do for you:
- Lower your blood sugar levels significantly
- Aid in weight loss (a leading contributor to diabetes)
- Regulate your blood pressure levels
- Help with stress management
Before commencing an exercise program, talk to your doctor and seek his/her guidance about the level of physical activity you should strive to achieve.
Type 2 Diabetes Diet
You may need to visit a dietitian who can create a special food chart for your diabetic journey. Your food intake, timing, and amount are directly proportional to your blood sugar levels. Here are the recommended food items to include in your diet:
- Whole foods
- Lean proteins
- Vegetables
- Healthy fats
Is Type 2 Diabetes Curable?
Type 2 diabetes is considered non-curable because the body cannot overcome insulin resistance once the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. However, one can control blood sugar levels with effective management, lifestyle modifications, medications, and monitoring.
Complications of Type 2 Diabetes
If you don’t manage type 2 diabetes effectively, it can lead to the following health complications that may develop gradually over time.
- Cardiovascular disorders – High blood sugar levels can make you more prone to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
- Eye problems – Diabetes is often linked to eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, and blindness because it damages blood vessels in the retina.
- Nerve damage – Abnormal blood sugar levels can damage nerves; in severe cases, patients may experience loss of sensation altogether.
- Kidney disease – Prolonged diabetes may interfere with kidney function.
- Skin problems – Diabetes can increase the risk of bacterial and fungal infections.
- Mental health issues – Living with diabetes can affect your mental health and increase the likelihood of depression and anxiety.
Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is gaining the status of an epidemic in India. Currently, India ranks second in the world for the number of individuals living with diabetes. (Ref) Therefore, you must know how to prevent diabetes.
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Follow a balanced diet
- Stay physically active
- Engage in stress management
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Quit smoking
- Go for regular health checkups
- Get quality sleep
