How to Treat and Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Type two diabetes is a widespread disease. This version of diabetes means that your body doesn't produce enough insulin or resists insulin. 

Symptoms

Symptoms may include increased thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. In some circumstances, there may be no symptoms. Symptoms frequently develop over a long time and can go unnoticed for several years. It's essential to know the risk factors, see your doctor, and get your blood sugar tested if you have any symptoms because they can be hard to identify (CDC, 2019). 


The risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

  • Having a family member such as a parent, sister or brother with diabetes
  • Age 45 or older
  • Being overweight
  • Are Black, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino, Pacific Islander or Asian American 
  • Sedentary lifestyle 
  •  Take medicine for high blood pressure or have high blood pressure 
  • Having low HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides
  • Had diabetes during pregnancy (CDC, 2020).

 

Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

To prevent type 2 diabetes: 

  • Cut down on sugar and carbs in your diet - High sugar digestion promotes insulin resistance, which causes blood sugar to rise and increases the risks of getting diabetes. 
  • Hydration is essential - It's an excellent way to lower blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can cause dehydration. Drinking more water as your primary beverage helps eliminate irrelevant glucose in the urine, thereby, preventing dehydration (Diabetes.co.uk., 2019).  
  • Quit smoking - Smoking can lead to many diseases diabetes is one of them. Nicotine decreases the effectiveness of insulin (Spritzler, 2017). 
  • Weight loss - When a person is overweight, the pancreas has to work harder to provide more insulin for the extra weight, losing weight restores blood sugar to an average level, which can decrease the risk of diabetes. 
  • Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle is another way to prevent diabetes. Exercising and staying active at least three days a week helps to reduce the risk of diabetes. Studies have shown that people who lead a sedentary lifestyle risk for diabetes increase by 91%.


How to Manage Type 2 Diabetes

  • Eat foods rich in fiber and healthy carbohydrates. Include fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain in your meal. 
  • Eat small portions regularly. 
  • Limit sweets, refined carbohydrates, and animal fats in your diet.
  • Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity daily.
  • Use the oral medication as prescribed by your health care provider to control your blood sugar.
  • Administer insulin as prescribed.
  • Avoid process meats.
  • Avoid pasta or white rice.
  • Avoid white bread and bagels.
  • Avoid beef and liver (Pietrangelo, 2020).


Type two diabetes can lead to multiple health problems, but with proper diet and exercise, it can be managed effectively, and one can live a long and fulfilling life.


By Nattlya A.


References


CDC. (2019). Type 2 Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from:

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html


CDC. (2020). Diabetes Risk Factors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: 

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/risk-factors.html 


Diabetes.co.uk. (2019). Water and Diabetes. Retrieved from:

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/wateranddiabetes.html#:~:text=blood%20glucose%20levels.-,Diabetes%20mellitus,urine%2C%20leading%20to%20further%20dehydration.


Pietrangelo, A. (2020). Understanding Type 2 Diabetes. Healthline. Retrieved from: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes


Spritzler, F. (2017). 13 Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Healthline. Retrieved from: 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/prevent-diabetes.



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