In past, type II diabetes was treated as an adult-onset condition. However, recent data shows that both types I and II diabetes can begin in childhood and adolescence. The latter is more common among older adults but its prevalence is increasing in children and young people with obesity. Though there may not be a complete cure for this long-term condition, lifestyle changes, weight loss and dietary consciousness can manage type II diabetes. Some patients also need medication and insulin therapy when exercise and diet don’t manage blood glucose levels.
Type 2 Diabetes does not allow the body to use insulin the way it should. It's a lifelong disease that affects older and middle-aged people the most. However, obese teens and children are at risk of being affected by Type 2 diabetes. In this medical condition, the body's cells don't accept insulin hormones, leading to excessively high blood sugar levels. This condition impairs the body’s ability to regulate and use glucose (sugar) which is a necessary fuel for the body. This chronic condition causes too much blood sugar circulation which eventually results in immune, circulatory and nervous system disorders. Mainly, two problems occur simultaneously in type II diabetes.
People with type 2 diabetes might not be aware of the condition until it progresses. However, a few of the symptoms that type 2 diabetes patients report are:
This chronic condition is greatly preventable if you take simple steps such as:
However, type II diabetes goes beyond individual behavior. The burden also falls on communities, families, government, media and the food industry to work together in helping people make healthy choices.
A1C test or glycated hemoglobin test is conducted to diagnose type II diabetes. The blood test determines the average sugar level in the last 2-3 months. The results are interpreted keeping in mind the normal range of 5.7%.
Doctors recommend blood glucose tests to check the blood sugar levels in fasting and 2 hours after you have consumed a meal. After the results, your doctor will recommend you treatment and put you on the right medication for your condition. A lifestyle change and medications will help you find a solution, but it is not guaranteed to relieve you from Diabetes and its symptoms. At first, your doctor will ask you to change your lifestyle to see if it affects your blood sugar levels. Most patients are required to:
There are certain factors that increase your risk of developing this chronic condition. Such as:
Weight: If you’re obese or overweight, you’re likely to develop type II diabetes.
Inactivity: A sedentary and inactive lifestyle puts you at great risk of type II diabetes.
Physical activity helps with weight control because your body uses glucose for energy. Being
active makes your body’s cells sensitive to insulin.
Fat distribution: If you have more fat around your abdomen – not thighs or hips area – you’re at
greater risk. Men with above 40 inches waist circumference and women with a waist circumference
of 35 inches are more at risk of developing this chronic condition.
Ethnicity and race: unclear, but people of certain ethnicity and race, such as Pacific
Islanders, Native Americans, Hispanic, Black and Asian people are more prone to developing type
II diabetes.
Family history: If your family has a history of type II diabetes, such as your sibling or
parent, you’ll likely be at risk of this condition.
Prediabetes: This condition occurs when the sugar level in the bloodstream is higher than normal
but not enough to be categorized as diabetes. If unaddressed, it can progress to type 2
diabetes.
Besides these risks, age, pregnancy, PCOS, higher blood lipid levels, and darkened areas in the
neck and armpits also indicate insulin resistance and type II diabetes.
*Prescriptions provided at doctor’s discretion.
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, you need to get a doctor's appointment for a diabetes consultation. If you have rashes around the neck or any part of the body that does not go away, it might also be a symptom of type 2 diabetes, and you need to get yourself checked immediately.
At TelMDCare, our online doctors provide you with a consultation and recommend lifestyle changes and medication after your Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis. Moreover, patients can easily schedule a follow-up session with our online doctors for their medical issues. Talk to our telemedicine doctor for type II diabetes meditation.
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You can control and lower type II diabetes despite your diagnosis by achieving balanced and healthy lifestyle changes. For instance, regular exercise, carbo-hydrated controlled food, well-maintained weight and medication to manage your condition.
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. This hormone works by regulating how your body uses sugar. When you eat a meal, insulin releases in the body to raise blood glucose levels. It stimulates glucose uptake in the cells and lowers the sugar level in the bloodstream.
This is a long-term condition that doesn’t change. However, diabetes means “higher blood sugar” so when your sugar level is normal without treatment, you can consider it gone. Please note that this genetic condition always exists even when your sugar level is controlled so you can go back to your old ways.
Over 30% of people living with this condition require insulin therapy while others can take medication to prevent or delays insulin therapy. Studies estimate that the need for insulin replacements will decline in future.
Yes. If you have type II diabetes, it puts your children at risk of developing this condition because it’s a genetic condition. The risk multiplies if your kids are obese or overweight, live a sedentary life and multiple family members have diabetes. Children are 10-15% more likely to develop type II diabetes if their parents have this condition.
No. Insulin therapy doesn’t mean you will develop type I diabetes. The type of diabetes you develop depends on genetics, not the type of medication or therapy you take.