Health Problems Caused By Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is often termed a metabolic disorder because it is the result of how we metabolize or use the food that we eat. Diabetics have a problem with the hormone insulin. Insulin is secreted when food is eaten, or more specifically, when carbohydrates are eaten and broken down to form glucose. Glucose enters the bloodstream and is used to provide energy to the cells of body. During this process the glucose levels in the blood return to a normal level. Returning the blood sugar level to normal is the job of insulin. In diabetics this often cannot be achieved and they have to either take insulin replacement therapy or some form of medication that makes the body more sensitive to the naturally occurring insulin. This article will discuss some of the health problems caused by type 2 diabetes. It will first differentiate between type 1 and 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.
The ongoing treatment for type 1 is consistent exercise, a balanced diet and insulin replacement therapy. Type 2 is treated similarly, through exercise and diet. It generally does not need insulin replacement therapy but may need medication to make the body more responsive to the normally occurring insulin.
The Cause Of Type 2 Diabetes
The cells in the body cannot recognize or process insulin. It is thought that the cells that develop this condition have lost the receptors that sense insulin secretion or simply there is not enough insulin being produced to deal with the amount of glucose in the body. People with a large belly are most at risk of developing type 2 diabetes because the fat cells in the abdominal area produce adipokines that are believed to reduce the body’s tolerance to insulin.
Resulting Health Issues
It is important to manage blood glucose levels. If they are high for long periods of time then the consistency of the blood affects many areas of the body that it flows to. In particular, it can score the inner walls of the arteries. This makes it more likely that LDL cholesterol that passes through the arteries with the blood will stick to the inner walls. This is the cause of atherosclerosis and can lead to blood clots and strokes when bits of LDL cholesterol break off the walls and obstruct the flow of blood.
Poor circulation is another problem brought about by type 2 diabetes. Poor circulation can lead to a number of problems including eye conditions. Diabetic retinopathy is one such example. The capillaries that bring blood to the eyes die because they stop getting blood. This forces the body to create more capillaries to support the eyes but they are weaker than the original capillaries and may burst or leak blood. this goes into the eye and can cloud the vision or even lead to blindness.
Poor circulation also leads to problems with the extremities of the body, notably the hands and feet. They do not get adequate supplies of blood that keep them healthy and more resistant to bacteria and infections.
For areas like the feet, cuts, bruises and infection are often ignored because the feet are meant to be tough. This is worse for diabetics becuase the nervous system is weakened. this means an warning of foot problems like pain may not be felt and acted on. This can lead to more problems, especially as it takes longer to heal foot problems in a diabetic.
The best treatment of type 2 diabetes is to manage your diet and exercise plans. Eat a balanced diet and get regular workouts. You may also try to lose weight if this is a problem as extra weight can worsen the condition.
Get more on a diabetes diet plan at www.diabeticdietsplan.com. The site features diets and eating nutritious diabetic foods and some common symptoms of diabetes.