Loading...

Early signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes and how to avoid

by admin | June 21, 2021 | Aware | 1 comments

Heart disease is a leading cause of death, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. This is because uncontrolled type 2 diabetes increases your risk of heart attack and other serious heart health complications. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes is extremely important.

How do you know if you are type 2 diabetic?

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong disease that causes blood sugar levels to be higher than normal. The onset of type 2 diabetes is gradual and early signs can be so mild at first that you don’t notice them. The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes include-

  • Peeing more, often at night
  • Being thirstier
  • Dry mouth and itchy skin
  • Constant hunger
  • Lack of energy
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Increased susceptibility to infections
  • Numbness, or burning sensation in the hands or feet
  • Slow-healing wounds

Sometimes, diabetes affects your heart health. This is because the symptoms become more severe and potentially dangerous as the disease progresses.

What increases my risk of diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of family history and lifestyle. Some of the causes such as aging or family history you can’t control, others you can. Addressing controllable causative factors puts you on a path toward better health.

Factors that put you at increased risk for diabetes include

  • Diet rich in saturated or trans-fat, and cholesterol
  • Being overweight (BMI more than 25)
  • Hypertension
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol

What can I do to avoid or control type 2 diabetes?

Healthy lifestyle choices may help in slowing or preventing type 2 diabetes even if you have biological relatives living with diabetes. Making changes in the lifestyle proactively is the key to a healthy body. Small simple steps play a significant role in diabetes and heart disease prevention and treatment-

  • Tune-up your diet. Pay attention to the food labels you eat. Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish, and low in salt and saturated fat. Eat smaller portions at regular intervals.
  • Move more. Diabetes treatmentincludes engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or doing 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous activity each week.
  • Limit your drink. Drink in moderate, one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
  • Regular medicines. Take your medicines as directed by a healthcare provider. Diabetes medication for heart diseaseprevention may include cholesterol-lowering drugs.
  • Quit smoking.Chances of developing type 2 diabetes increases by 30 to 40 percent in smokers.
  • Make sure that you get six to eight hours of sleep each day.
  • Manage stress. Relax yourself by pursuing your hobbies, listening to music, or practicing meditation.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your doctor may prescribe medicines. Type 2 diabetes may lead to serious health concerns and long-term damage to your body if left untreated. Also, diabetes increases your heart attack risk. Monitoring blood sugar levels regularly is important. The goal is to remain within a specific range.

Getting tested to know your risk of type 2 diabetes

The only way to be sure your blood sugar level stays within the normal range is to monitor it regularly, especially if you are in a high-risk category or experience symptoms as above. Recognize symptoms of diabetes for better prognosis. Know how to avoid diabetes or keep it under control by visiting the Making India Heartstrong website.

FAQs

Q. What are the three P’s of diabetes?

Polydipsia (increased thirst), polyuria (frequent urination), and polyphagia (increased hunger) are three P’s of diabetes

Q. How diabetes affects your heart health?

High levels of blood sugar from diabetes damage your blood vessels and nerves controlling them. The longer your diabetes remains uncontrolled, the higher the chances that you will suffer from heart disease. If you’re a diabetic, you may develop heart disease at a younger age than those without diabetes.

Q. How is obesity related to diabetes?

Obesity increases levels of fatty acids and inflammation, leading to insulin resistance, which in turn causes the building up of high blood sugar and the development of type 2 diabetes. In short, the more extra weight you carry, the more resistant your muscle and tissue cells will become to your insulin hormone. So, weight management is important for diabetes prevention and control.

Q. How can you monitor your blood glucose levels?

Type 2 diabetes diagnosis usually involves a blood test, hemoglobin A1c which indicates the average blood sugar level of the past three months. You can also test your blood sugar at home with a portable electronic device called a blood sugar meter using a small drop of your blood.

Q. Can type 2 diabetes be cured?

Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease. It cannot be cured but can be controlled. In some cases, it may go into the remission phase. It is important to watch out for sign and symptoms of diabetes. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and maintain normal blood sugar levels without medication.

Q. What triggers Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is primarily the result of two interrelated problems either cells in the muscle, fat, and the liver become resistant to insulin or are unable to use it efficiently. This leads to glucose builds up in your bloodstream.. Being overweight and an inactive lifestyle are the most common factors to trigger type 2 diabetes. You must know how to avoid diabetes by making lifestyle changes.

Q. What should my blood sugar levels before and after meals?

The American Diabetes Association recommends a blood glucose range of 80-130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL about 2 hours after a meal. This range should place your HbA1c under 7.

 

  1. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html
  3. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-2-diabetes-symptoms
  4. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-risk
  5. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis
  6. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-2-diabetes/going-regular-check-ups/
  7. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html
  8. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-information/cigarette-smoking-risk-factor-type-2-diabetes
  9. https://www.diabetes.org/a1c/diagnosis
  10. https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/type-2-diabetes/type-2-diabetes-causes
Tags:
Submit a Comment
Your email address will not be published fields are marked*

Subscribe To Our Newsletter
The field is required.
Enter valid Email.

About