My younger brother was just recently diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. My first thought was bummer, so much for eating
sweets. However, he starting telling me more about it and I
started doing some research, I realized that this is a disease
that needs to be taken very seriously.
His news was an eye opener for me because during my last
physical, I was told by the doctor that I am on the edge of
pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a
person’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not
high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 57
million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the
23.6 million with diabetes.
Until now I did nothing about it but that will change from this
point on.
As I learn more about type 2 diabetes I will share this information
with the readers of this blog. I am starting today with the
following:
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In
type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough
insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for
the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you
eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches
into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body.
Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When
glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can
cause two problems:
• Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
• Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your
eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.
Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don’t panic. Type 2
diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long,
healthy, happy lives.
While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some
groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than
others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans,
Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders,
as well as the aged population
Conditions associated with type 2 diabetes include hyperglycemia
and hypoglycemia. (I’ll explain more about these is a follow-up
post). Having type 2 diabetes increases your risk for many
serious complications. Some complications of type 2 diabetes
include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness
(retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and
kidney damage (nephropathy).
Next post “What are The Symptoms”?
My younger brother was just recently diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. My first thought was bummer, so much for eating
sweets. However....">
My younger brother was just recently diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. My first thought was bummer, so much for eating
sweets. However....">
My younger brother was just recently diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. My first thought was bummer, so much for eating
sweets. However....">
