Type 2 Diabetes the silent killer
Known as the silent killer, Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes sugar, in the form of glucose to accumulate in the blood rather than being used as a fuel by the cells in our body.
When we eat, the food that we consume is broken down by our digestive system into nutrient molecules that are then absorbed through our digestive tract for use by the body.
Food containing carbohydrates or various sugars are broken down into glucose which is an important fuel for many organs in our body.
However, to be able to use the glucose as fuel, the glucose molecule must first enter into the cell.
The pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which is a chemical messenger essential for the entrance of the glucose molecule into the cell.
As the blood glucose levels rise after a meal, insulin is released into the bloodstream. In type 2 diabetes, the cells become resistant to the insulin and ignore its message to absorb glucose, and this is known as insulin resistance.
Also, in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce the greater amounts of insulin needed to trigger these resistant cells to take in glucose from the bloodstream.
Do I have Diabetes?
If you are wondering whether you might have a type 2 diabetes, you should know that the most notable symptom of diabetes is frequent urination leading to thirst and therefore increased liquid intake. Other symptoms include weakness, drowsiness and blurred vision.
These are caused by the chemical imbalances in the blood related to high level of glucose in the blood.
It is important to catch diabetes early because in time because high blood glucose damages the blood vessels, which can damage the organs which these vessels supply, leading to a variety of health complications such as vision problems, loss of sight, nerve damage, kidney disease.
It can also lead to cardiovascular complications such as heart disease, stroke and poor blood circulation.
Risk factors leading to type 2 diabetes are overweight, sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise, plus a family history of diabetes significantly increase the risk of developing this disease.
The goal of the type 2 diabetes treatment is to actually safely keep the blood glucose within the normal range.
And that is best achieved through carefully planning our diet plan.
Improving your diet and exercising regularly are important parts of type 2 diabetes management and treatment.
If it is left untreated, diabetes can actually cause many serious long-term complications that include heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney failure, foot ulcers, and the damage to the eyes.
What you eat can actually help you to control and fight your diabetes.
Research do prove that making a few key changes to your diet such as eating more vegetables, fewer refined carbohydrates, plenty of the lean protein can help in improving your blood-sugar and cuts the risk of diabetes-related complications.
Certain foods are usually packed with nutrients that stabilise blood sugar levels, protect your heart, and even do save your vision from the damaging effects of diabetes.
The main thing you should watch out for is the consumption of carbohydrates.
Foods that are filled with carbohydrates cause your blood sugar levels to rise, and that is why you should be careful with them and limit your daily intake to control your glucose levels.
Superfoods like spinach, broccoli, or any other dark leafy non-starchy vegetable are your ally in the fight against diabetes. Spinach is lowest in carbohydrates and that what it makes it a perfect choice for type 2 diabetes patients to include in their diet plan.
Broccoli, besides being low in carbohydrates, it is also known for its anti-inflammatory abilities which can improve the blood sugar control all the while protecting the blood vessels from the cardiovascular damage that might arise.
In overweight and obese persons, weight loss can often return blood glucose level to normal. That’s why healthy lifestyle, including healthy food and regular exercise, is essential in curing this and many other diseases.
Exercise decreases the resistance of the cell to the action of insulin making it easier for the glucose to enter the cell from the bloodstream.
This benefit of exercise occurs even if there is no associated weight loss. If weight loss, improving diet and exercising regularly do not improve the condition, then medication is the next step.
3 thoughts on “Diabetes [Type 2] – The Silent Killer”
I just find out that I am type two and this information has helped me a lot. Thanks Karien.
Goodwill I appreciate the feedback let me know if there is anything we can help you with.
My husband is a diabetic, not sure what type he is. He uses insulin injections after each meal & a 24 hour one at night. We are very interested in CSN products.