Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is known as a metabolic disorder because it affects how we use the food that we eat. As we eat many times a day and there is no cure for diabetes, it is a disease that can have a significant impact on a person's life. Diabetics have a problem with the hormone insulin. When food is eaten, mainly carbohydrates, it is metabolized so that glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. Once in the blood it can be transported throughout the body where it is used as energy by the body. When this occurs, the blood glucose level reduces from a high level to a normal level. This is the job of the hormone insulin. For diabetics the blood glucose level cannot be reduced because insulin is not created or the body is not sensitive to the insulin that is produced. As a result of this various health problems can occur. This article will first point out the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and then cover some health problems caused by type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. The immune system thinks that the beta cells in the pancreas, that create insulin, are foreign and destroys them. Type 2 diabetes is more to do with insulin resistance. The body continues to produce insulin but the body does not respond to the insulin as it used to. Diabetes during pregnancy is another type of diabetes that is similar to type 2 diabetes in that it is resistance to the naturally occurring insulin.

Type 1 can be managed through a combination of insulin injection, proper diet and regular exercise. Type 2 is the same, except that there is often no need to inject insulin. In some cases medication may be needed to make the body more sensitive to insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes Causes

The body simply stops recognizing or using insulin. This may be some cells in the body or all of them. It is thought that the cells that are resistant to insulin have lost the receptor that senses insulin. People that are overweight, particularly around the waist, are most at risk to type 2 diabetes because the fatty tissues around the waist create adipokines that are thought to reduce the body's tolerance to insulin.

Resulting Health Issues

High blood glucose levels most be reduced. If they are consistently high for long periods then certain parts of the body begin to suffer. These include the cardiovascular, immune and circulatory systems. High glucose levels in the blood change the makeup of the blood and this is thought to score or scratch the walls of the arteries when blood passes through. this can encourage LDL cholesterol to stick to the walls and lead to atherosclerosis and eventually heart disease.

Another problem is poor circulation. This can lead to problems all over the body. The eyes can suffer from diabetic retinopathy because of poor circulation. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the blood vessels that support the eyes die because they do not receive any blood. This causes the body to make new blood vessels but they are weaker and may break or burst. this can cause blood to leak into the eye and distort or reduce normal vision. In some cases if left untreated it can lead to a detached retina.

Poor circulation also means that the extremities of the body do not get all the nutrients that they need. This means that areas like the feet and hands become more open to infection, cuts and bruising. They also take a longer time to heal.

The nervous system is also affected in people with type 2 diabetes. This means problems with feet, like cuts or infections are not felt and go unnoticed because people rarely look or see their feet.

The simplest treatment for type 2 diabetes is exercise and diet. Get a regular exercise schedule. Start off small and build up as you get more stamina. Consult a doctor about what and how much exercise you should do. Plan a diabetic diet with a dietitian and make sure it is balanced to give you all the vitamins and nutrients you need.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

Get more on diabetes diet plans at www.diabeticdietsplan.com. The site features diets and eating nutritious diabetic foods and some common symptoms of diabetes.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated