Health Problems Caused By Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is known as a metabolic disorder because it affects how we use the food that we eat. As we eat many times a day and there is no cure for diabetes, it is a disease that can have a significant impact on a person's life.  Diabetics have a problem with the hormone insulin. When food is eaten, mainly carbohydrates, it is metabolized so that glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. Once in the blood it can be transported throughout the body where it is used as energy by the body. When this occurs, the blood glucose level reduces from a high level to a normal level. This is the job of the hormone insulin. For diabetics the blood glucose level cannot be reduced because insulin is not created or the body is not sensitive to the insulin that is produced. As a result of this various health problems can occur. This article will first point out the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and then cover some health problems caused by 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.

With no cure for type 1 diabetes, it is generally managed through a balanced diet, exercise and injecting insulin. Type 2 is managed more through diet and regular exercise. There may be times when medication is used to treat type 2 to make the cells of the body more sensitive to insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes Causes

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.

Common Health Problems

High blood glucose levels most be reduced. If they are consistently high for long periods then certain parts of the body begin to suffer. These include the cardiovascular, immune and circulatory systems. High glucose levels in the blood change the makeup of the blood and this is thought to score or scratch the walls of the arteries when blood passes through. this can encourage LDL cholesterol to stick to the walls and lead to atherosclerosis and eventually heart disease.

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 means that the extremities of the body do not get all the nutrients that they need. This means that areas like the feet and hands become more open to infection, cuts and bruising. They also take a longer time to heal.

The nervous system is also affected in people with type 2 diabetes. This means problems with feet, like cuts or infections are not felt and go unnoticed because people rarely look or see their feet.

Treating type 2 diabetes revolves around getting the right foods and partaking in regular exercise. Work out a proper, balanced diabetic diet with a dietitian. Do physical activities that you enjoy to begin with and then build up your level of exercise. Consult a doctor before starting a new regime.

Enter your search terms Submit search form