The human body runs on glucose, a fuel derived from the sugar we intake. Type 2 diabetes is a serious health condition where the patient's body is unable to regulate blood glucose in a normal manner or produce enough insulin.
This chronic and life-long condition results in too much sugar in the bloodstream, leading to circulatory, nervous, and immune system disorders over time.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
There are usually two primarily interrelated problems at work. 1. The pancreas are incapable of creating enough insulin, a hormone necessary for the movement of sugar into the cells. 2. The body's cells begin responding poorly to insulin and absorb less sugar.
Although type 2 diabetes is associated with adult-onset diabetes, it isn't uncommon for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes to begin during childhood and early adulthood. Type 2 is more prevalent in adults, but the increase in obesity amongst children has resulted in scores of cases of type 2 diabetes in younger people.
While there is no official cure for type 2 diabetes, experts claim that losing weight and maintaining a lifestyle of healthy eating and a regular exercise routine can help regulate and manage the disease. Although, if exercise and a healthy diet aren't enough to manage blood sugar levels, one may need to turn to insulin therapy and diabetes medications.
What is insulin and how does it work?
Insulin is a hormone generated via the pancreas to help control the level of glucose (also known as blood sugar) in the blood. It plays a significant role in regulating how the human body uses sugar in the following ways:
- The body identifies the sugar present in the bloodstream, triggering the pancreas to secrete insulin.
- Once the pancreas circulates insulin in the bloodstream, it enables sugar to enter the cells.
- Once the sugar gets absorbed by the cells, the amount of sugar in the bloodstream drops.
- This drop triggers a response towards the pancreas to release less insulin.
Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes:
This disease often develops slowly. One could be living with it for years and not know. This is why it is important to keep a lookout for these signs and visit the doctor right away:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Unintended weight loss
- Tiredness & fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores
- Frequent infections
- A numb or tingling sensation felt in the hands or feet
- Patches of darkened skin, usually in the armpits and around the neck
