What Are The Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes? Here Are What You Should know About Type 2 Diabetes

According to the World Health Organization, 422 million people worldwide have diabetes as of today—a number that has almost quadrupled since 2014, according to Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a Board-Certified Family Physician with Holistic Wellness Strategies. “This number is increasing for a number of reasons, including better diagnostic tools and more public knowledge of the ailment, which makes a diagnosis easier. Additionally, diabetes can surely be brought on by bad lifestyle choices.”

Fox News continues, “A new modeling study is raising alarm bells when it found that the number of young Americans with diabetes will rise by about 700% over the next 40 years. “The research was published on December 29, 2022, in the journal Diabetes Care under the title “Projections of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Burden in the U.S. Population Aged 20 Years Through 2060: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.” According to the study’s authors, there may be 220,000 Type 2 diabetics under the age of 20 in 2060, an increase of almost 675% from the number of adolescents with the disease in 2017.” The “startling projections,” said one expert.

“We should all use this new information as a wake-up call. We must concentrate our efforts on ensuring that all Americans, especially our young people, are in the best possible health “Debra Houry, MD, MPH, the CDC’s acting principal deputy director, said in a statement.

Poor dietary choices raise the risk and consequences for anybody with diabetes, and diet plays a significant role in the condition. It’s not overstating things to suggest that the majority of our meals and snacks are high in sugar and carbs, according to Dr. Mitchell. We are surrounded by takeaways, packaged breakfast foods, and sweet snacks wherever we look. It’s simple to ignore how much sugar we consume because of our dependence on sweet foods, but the truth is that we have a serious sugar addiction.

Diabetes has been caused by this society, placing an unmistakable load on the healthcare system. To stop this epidemic, people need to understand the risks of this fixation and change their lifestyles. Read on to discover more about type 2 diabetes and how to spot its signs. As usual, if you need medical advice, contact your doctor.

 

According to Dr. Mitchell, “When the body is unable to effectively handle sugar in the bloodstream, type 2 diabetes develops. Although it can affect people of any age, it is more prevalent in individuals who are overweight or obese and have a sedentary lifestyle. Diabetes raises a person’s chance for serious long-term complications include blindness, circulatory system issues, stroke, and heart attacks.”

Medication to regulate blood sugar levels and frequent exercise to prevent weight gain and loss are part of the treatment. Additionally, by maintaining steady blood glucose levels, a nutritious diet low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol and high in fiber can help manage diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes can live full lives without experiencing serious health problems with early diagnosis, education about lifestyle changes, and appropriate medical care.

 

explains Dr. Mitchell: “It should come as no surprise that those who are overweight and/or lead sedentary lifestyles are often those who are most at risk of having diabetes. Studies have also revealed that a person’s genetic makeup may play a part in their propensity to develop type 2 diabetes.

People with a family history of diabetes are also thought to be at higher risk, as are members of specific ethnic groups like African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans. Nevertheless, diabetes can be detected in people of all ages and lifestyles. Therefore, healthy lifestyle practices, such as nutrition and exercise, are necessary for people of all ages and backgrounds to lower their risk of contracting the disease.”

The following are risk factors, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• “Weight. Being overweight or obese is a main risk.
• Fat distribution. Storing fat mainly in your abdomen — rather than your hips and thighs — indicates a greater risk. Your risk of type 2 diabetes rises if you’re a man with a waist circumference above 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) or a woman with a measurement above 35 inches (88.9 centimeters).
• Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk. Physical activity helps control your weight, uses up glucose as energy and makes your cells more sensitive to insulin.
• Family history. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases if your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes.
• Age. The risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 35.
• And more.

 

Dr. Mitchell claims that type 2 diabetes brings a variety of health concerns and problems if it is not controlled. In the short term, this may result in recurrent urinary tract infections and issues with blood sugar regulation, including weariness, a drop in energy, blurred vision, slow wound healing, and an elevated risk of heart disease.

Poorly regulated blood glucose levels can have even more detrimental long-term repercussions, including an increased risk of renal disease, nerve damage, stroke, foot problems that necessitate amputation, and several malignancies. The best method to maintain health and reduce the likelihood of long-term consequences is to properly manage type 2 diabetes throughout time.

As per the Mayo Clinic, “Numerous important organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes, and kidneys, are impacted by type 2 diabetes. Additionally, risk factors for diabetes also increase the chance of other significant chronic diseases. You can reduce your risk of developing these consequences or co-occurring diseases (comorbidities) by managing your diabetes and regulating your blood sugar.”

 

“Diabetes is a serious medical condition that can have long-term health effects, so it’s important to notice the warning signals of significant complications resulting from Type 2 diabetes,” stresses Dr. Mitchell. Imagine you routinely have increased urine frequency, excessive thirst or hunger, or unexpected weight loss or gain. If so, those are unmistakable indications that your body may not be responding to insulin as it should be, which is a crucial marker of certain types of diabetes.

If you experience blurred vision or acute exhaustion immediately after eating, or if your feet feel numb or tingly, this could be a more serious warning sign and should be discussed as soon as possible with a healthcare expert. Diabetes can also be indicated by additional signs such sores that take a long time to cure, frequent yeast infections, and attention deficit disorder. For managing blood sugar levels and potential consequences that could result from this very prevalent health issue, it is crucial to be aware of these warning signs and to act upon them.

 

According to Dr. Mitchell, diet is very important for identifying, treating, and controlling diabetes. To maintain appropriate blood glucose levels and prevent complications, it’s important to understand correct nutrition, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. A healthy weight can be improved or maintained, insulin sensitivity is controlled by eating a balanced diet high in fiber and low in calories, and Type 2 Diabetes risk is decreased.

Being mindful of the things we eat on a daily basis is just as important for controlling diabetes as monitoring sugar intake for people with the disease. Additionally, consuming more nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables may help further lower the risk of acquiring other diseases like heart disease. In the end, maintaining a healthy diet can be one of the best ways to safeguard one’s health if one has diabetes or is at risk for developing it.