You are above 45 years. You had stopped exercising long time ago due to pressures of work. Now-a-days you feel tired, often thirsty and have the urge to urinate quite often. Suspecting that something is wrong, you visit your family doctor. He gives a thorough check along with some tests and summons you to his office for a personal discussion. You are apprehensive as to what could be wrong. Finally the doctor spills the beans saying you have Type 2 diabetes.
The food we take is converted into a sugar called glucose and carried to all the cells in our body by the blood. The pancreas in our body produces a hormone called Insulin which is required to regulate the transportation of sugar from the blood into cells.
Diabetes is a collection of diseases manifested by excessive glucose in the blood which results from the body’s inability to use and or produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, our body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or fails to produce sufficient insulin to maintain normal glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, it is a persistent condition, life threatening and there is no cure. But can be effectively managed and even be prevented.
If you have type 2 diabetes you may not be aware of it. There may be no symptoms or signs at all. Even if there are a few signs, they could be so mild that you do not perceive them at all. Even though perceived, you may not suspect that you suffer from diabetes.
The Type 2 diabetes symptoms may include:
The following factors increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and may predispose you to suffer from type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The prominent risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes are a condition called as pre-diabetes also termed as “Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)” and obesity. Losing little weight is the key for people at risk to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The weight loss can be achieved through moderate diet changes and physical activity.
Get more physical. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. Be innovative to indulge in the physical exercise. For example, walk while you talk. Dance while you cook. Park your car a little far off and take a walk. Avoid lifts. Prefer stairs.
Make healthy choices of food. Eat less. Choose foods that are low in fats, sugar and calories. Go for a variety of fruits and vegetables. Prefer whole grains food.
You can effectively manage type 2 diabetes by using the following self-care plan.
Plan your meals. Consult your health care team.