TYPE 2

WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood becomes higher than normal. There are two main types of diabetes. The first one is type 1; this is when the body only makes a small amount or no insulin in the pancreas. These people have to inject themselves with insulin. However, with type 2 diabetics, their pancreas makes a little insulin but not enough for the amount of sugar that is in the blood stream. These people can control their diabetes by either a strict healthy diet or tablets can also control it, these tablets are taken as it helps the pancreas produce more insulin.

What age range suffer from this

Type 2 diabetes occurs mainly in people aged over 40. Or people who are overweight. However, the number of young children and teenagers suffering with type 2 diabetes is increasing. This could be due to the fact that the children may be overweight, or they could have a very poor diet. While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, these include, adults, old people and overweight people. However, type 2 diabetes is increasing in young people. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than in type 1. It has been found that over 90 per cent of people with diabetes have this type.

What are the symptoms

Type 2 diabetes have many signs and symptoms, these include:

• Increased thirst and urination
• Extreme hunger
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Cuts taking longer to heal

If you have any of these symptoms please do not just ignore them, go and speak to your doctor.

The reason why you make a lot of urine and become thirsty is because glucose leaks into your urine which 'pulls out' extra water through the kidneys.

Many symptoms can develop over a long period of time, like you can become used to being thirsty and tired. You may not recognise that you are ill until something happened to you. Some people also develop blurred vision and frequent infections. However, some people with Type 2 diabetes do not have any symptoms if the blood glucose level is not too high. However, even if you do not have symptoms, you should still have treatment to reduce the risk of developing complications later on in your life.

How can you help?

There are many ways in which people can help control their type 2 diabetes, these include:

• Exercise regularly
• Eat healthy meals
• Take medication when required
• If you become ill, do not stop taking your medication
• If you have to drink alcohol, do it sensibly
• Keep yourself stress free!

Both types of diabetes are serious. They must be monitored with care and attention. You must visit a doctor regularly. You must make sure that your sugar level is as normal as possible. After a lot of hard work my sugar level has now gone down to level 6.4, which is completely normal.

Once you are controlled, and the doctors are happy with your progress, then maybe you can have a very small amount of chocolate as a treat, but be sensible about what you do!

In the long run Type 2 diabetes can usually be controlled with the right diet and tablets.

If you keep a close eye on the disease and your blood glucose levels, you can greatly minimise the risk of further complications. When people have had type 2 diabetes for a very long time, it is very common that they will be put on insulin injections.

With type 2 diabetes, this disease can be reduced or even prevented, if a person has this condition, if they do a lot of exercise and eat healthily then this condition can be prevented when they loose the weight.

Please, if you have any of the symptoms and you think that you may have type 2 diabetes, do not just ignore it, diabetes can be life threatening if it is not treated properly, go and discuss your symptoms with your local general practitioner.

Ways in which to help yourself control your type 1 diabetes

• Eat a healthy diet, this is the same advice to anybody whether they have diabetes or not. Reduce the amount of fat and refined sugar you eat.
• Get yourself into a routine, most people who have well controlled diabetes are in a good routine.
• Monitor blood glucose levels regularly and make sure that you are giving your insulin at the right time. If your blood glucose levels are high do something about it!
• Keep in touch with the nurse specialist for diabetes he/she is there to help and support you.
• Attend regular hospital appointments
• Make sure you have your annual screening, if you have a problem this will identify it early.
• Attend the opticians and dentist regular.
• Reduce risk taking behaviour such as smoking, recreational drugs and alcohol.