Probably the most well-known chronic condition globally is type 2 diabetes, a form of diabetes mellitus, and it makes sense that this is the case. According to the CDC, there are 30.3 million diabetics in the United States, or 9.4% of the population. The majority of these persons have type 2 diabetes, which is more common.
More and more young people are diagnosed with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. (1) 7.2 million people have diabetes but don’t know it, and this figure is growing. It has been shown that those diagnosed with diabetes sooner are more likely to develop heart disease and certain forms of cancer, according to research published in Diabetologia in May 2018.
When it comes to type 2 diabetes, whether you’ve been diagnosed with it or have a family history of it, it may be frightening. There is no doubt that this diagnosis may be a difficult one to deal with, given the necessary dietary and lifestyle modifications.
Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, does not have to be life-threatening. It is possible to enjoy a healthy and happy life if you are informed about the condition, such as learning how insulin resistance develops and how to alleviate it; recognizing the indicators of diabetes; and knowing what to eat.
In fact, according to a study published in the BMJ in December 2017, dietary and lifestyle changes may even be able to put type 2 diabetes into remission. According to a study published in Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism in September 2018, the high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet may be a therapeutic method to control type 2 diabetes.
Increasing data suggest that bariatric surgery may completely cure type 2 diabetes.
Explore all of this and more in this article. Take a seat, relax, and get ready to take control of type 2 diabetes by reading on.
Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
The previous study has shown that in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, there are little or no symptoms at all. (2) Even so, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you be aware of the following symptoms and early warning signs: (3)
- Extreme thirst and frequent urine
- Weight loss that is unexpected or sudden
- Increased hunger
- Blurry vision
- Dark, velvety patches of skin (called acanthosis nigricans
- Fatigue
- Wounds that won’t heal
A doctor should be seen to detect any of these symptoms and have one or more risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Causes and Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes
According to researchers, many variables may be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes. The National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases stated that such variables include heredity and lifestyle (NIDDK).
According to the National Institutes of Health, insulin resistance is at the core of type 2 diabetes, and before a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, you may be diagnosed with prediabetes.
Insulin Resistance
According to the NIDDK, type 2 diabetes is characterized by persistently high blood sugar levels that the body cannot control on its own. Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, and hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, are medical terms.
The pancreas is where insulin, the hormone responsible for controlling blood sugar levels, is synthesized. A condition known as insulin resistance occurs when the body’s cells cannot use insulin properly. Consequently, the amount of insulin required to transfer glucose (blood sugar) into cells is higher than usual. The NIDDK states that glucose is the body’s fastest and most readily accessible energy source and that its efficiency drops as it is delivered to cells.
According to the CDC, people with insulin resistance typically don’t display symptoms, which might make it more challenging to diagnose the illness.
The pancreas releases more insulin as the body gets more resistant to insulin. According to the NIDDK, this condition is known as hyperinsulinemia and occurs when the body’s insulin levels are too high.
Prediabetes
You may be able to keep up with your body’s increasing need for insulin for a time. Still, ultimately your blood sugars may rise, leading to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
A diagnosis of prediabetes does not imply that you will acquire type 2 diabetes in the future. The CDC says that if you catch the disease early and make changes to your food and lifestyle, you may be able to avoid a deterioration of your health.
In the United States, the CDC estimates that more than 100 million people live with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, according to a report published in Current Cardiology Reports in June 2016, experts are still unsure which genes induce insulin resistance.
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Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors
There are several factors that contribute to type 2 diabetes. Because of this, you can’t merely stop consuming sugar or start exercising in order to prevent acquiring this health problem.
If you’re concerned about getting type 2 diabetes, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Obesity Type 2 diabetes is greatly increased if you are fat or overweight. To establish whether you’re obese or overweight, the NIH recommends measuring your body mass index (BMI) (NHLBI).
Poor Dietary Practices Diets high in sugar, fat, and processed foods are linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Type 2 diabetes has been linked to a diet heavy in processed, high-calorie meals and drinks and low in whole, nutrient-dense foods. White bread, chips, cookies, cake, soda, and fruit juice should all be avoided. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, water, and tea are among the best choices for a healthy diet.
Too much TV time Being overly sedentary may raise your risk of obesity, diabetes, and other diseases, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Having a hard time exercising enough. The muscle also interacts with insulin and other hormones to impact the development of diabetes, according to John Muir Health. Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes may be prevented by increasing lean muscle mass, which can be done by aerobic activity and weight training.
Habits of Sleep The National Sleep Foundation reminds out that sleep disruptions might alter the body’s insulin and blood sugar balance by raising the pancreas’s demand. This may lead to type 2 diabetes in the long run.
Ovarian Polycystic Disease (PCOS) According to research published in the August 2017 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, women with PCOS, a hormonal imbalance condition, may have a higher risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes than women without PCOS. These health disorders have a common denominator: insulin resistance and obesity.
Becoming Over 45 Years of Age According to the ADA, type 2 diabetes is more likely to develop as you become older. Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes have become more common in children and adolescents in recent years.
Is Type 2 Diabetes Genetic?
Type 2 diabetes risk may be influenced by genetics and dietary and lifestyle choices.
The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology released a paper in December 2013 that confirms this. Compared to fraternal twins, identical twins are more prone to develop diabetes. Having a family history of diabetes increases your chance of acquiring the condition four times.
Type 2 diabetes risk may be influenced by your ethnicity or race, according to a report published in Current Diabetes Reports in December 2013. This study found that African Americans, Hispanic or Latino Americans, and specific Native American populations had a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes than Caucasians.
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What Is the Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes?
To effectively manage type 2 diabetes, early diagnosis is critical. When it comes to diabetes screening, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends screening every three years if you’re 45 or older and overweight.
According to the Mayo Clinic, your doctor may use one of the following tests to screen you for type 2 diabetes:
Hemoglobin A1C Glycated Hemoglobin A1C is a blood sugar average test that takes two to three months to complete. Prediabetes and diabetes are indicated by an A1C of 6.5 percent or above on two separate tests, while A1C less than 5.7% is considered acceptable.
A1C and HbA1C Tests According to MedlinePlus, you will be asked to provide a sample of blood after you have fasted for eight hours before this test. Blood sugar levels are normal if your fasting blood sugar level is less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). In contrast, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you have a blood sugar level between 100 and 125 mg/dL, you have prediabetes, and two independent readings of 126 mg/dL indicate that you have diabetes.
If you’re pregnant or have a hemoglobin variation, your doctor may use another test in addition to the A1C and fasting glucose to diagnose diabetes.
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Random blood sugar test
Type 2 Diabetes and Its Prognosis
The prognosis for diabetes relies on several things, including how long a person has had diabetes, how well they are doing, and genetics. According to previous studies, you’re more likely to develop consequences like heart disease and neuropathy if you’ve had diabetes for an extended period with poor management. (4)
Previous research found that those with diabetes had lower life expectancies than those who did not have the disease. (5) However, it’s crucial to remember that a lot of the earlier studies came before, the more sophisticated treatments now accessible.
But don’t give up hope. A statistic isn’t something you have to be. Your health will be better off due to receiving an early diagnosis.
The quality of your life with diabetes may improve if you maintain a healthy diet and exercise consistently, take your prescription medicine, and lose weight, according to the American Diabetes Association.
How long do people with type 2 diabetes have it?
Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes cannot be reversed, even though lifestyle and dietary adjustments and oral and injectable treatment (such as the hormone insulin) may assist control the condition.
You may lower your blood sugar levels by decreasing 5 to 7% of your body weight. The Centers for Disease Control reports that doing so and working out at least 150 minutes a week in the national DPP program reduced their chance of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%. In addition, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that a nutritious diet, frequent exercise, and losing excess weight will help you better control your type 2 diabetes.
According to Harvard, if you don’t regulate your blood sugar, you may need more treatments and, if necessary, insulin in the future.
Hyperglycemia
High and low blood sugar might occur if you have type 2 diabetes. Knowing the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for restoring your blood sugar to a safe level is essential for preventing these occurrences.
Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)
People without Diabetes often have blood sugar levels between 70 and 100 mg/dL between meals. According to an article in Diabetes Self-Management, it may rise to 120 to 130 mg/dL after meals but seldom rises over 140 mg/dL.
In contrast, the Mayo Clinic warns that blood sugar levels may rise to 200, 300, or even 400 mg/dL and beyond if you have type 2 diabetes and don’t take the essential procedures for lowering them.
It’s crucial to check your blood sugar often, as prescribed by your doctor since high blood sugar doesn’t usually cause symptoms.
Following the American Diabetes Association, signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) include:
- Urinary incessantly
- Extreme thirst
- Feeling tired and weak
- Blurry vision
- Feeling hungry, even after eating
It’s feasible to maintain your blood sugar levels as near to normal as possible if you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Hyperglycemia may continue to occur even after you begin therapy.
As stated by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), there are some reasons why blood sugar levels may spike.
- Taking the medication incorrectly or in the wrong dose might lead to health complications.
- overindulging in big servings, particularly of meals high in carbohydrates,
- Not getting enough sleep
- Experiencing emotional stress
- Doing intense exercise
- Having an illness or infection
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
The condition of low blood sugar is more frequent in persons with type 1 diabetes, although it may occur in people with type 2 diabetes as well.
MedlinePlus defines low blood sugar as a blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL for diabetics.
You may have low blood sugar, according to the Mayo Clinic, if you:
- Glucose is depleted much too rapidly in your body.
- When you eat anything, your body releases glucose too slowly.
- Too much insulin is present in your body.
Even while no two people’s symptoms of low blood sugar will be identical, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that you keep an eye out for these signs:
- Sudden, intense hunger
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Sweating in excess (often sudden and without regard to temperature)
- Tremors or shakiness
- Anxiety attacks that come on suddenly
- Sudden, unexplained emotional lapses that are not consistent with your usual conduct.
- Confidence or the inability to focus
- a feeling of fatigue or sluggishness
- Vision is blurry
- Slurred speech
- Night sweats, nightmares, awakening abruptly and shouting out, or feelings of disorientation upon waking are all examples of sleep disruptions.
- Low blood sugar may cause life-threatening consequences, such as seizures, coma, or even death if it isn’t treated immediately.
Hypoglycemia may occur in diabetics if they:
- Eat a small meal or none after taking their insulin or oral diabetic medication.
- As a side effect of another diabetic medicine, it was created.
- Exercising excessively without consuming enough calories
- Drink too much alcohol
Your doctor has undoubtedly discussed how to deal with low blood sugar if you have type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia may be confused with other factors, such as stress, so if you notice a dip in blood sugar, be careful to examine it. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends rapidly consuming 15 to 20 grams (g) of simple carbs.
After 15 minutes, recheck your blood sugar level. According to the ADA, if your blood sugar is still low, you should consume an additional 15 to 20 grams of simple carbs.
Simple carbohydrates (which may be absorbed and digested fast) can be found in a variety of foods, including (6)
- Glucose tablets
- Glucose gel
- Juice or regular soda (not diet)
- Sugar, honey, or corn syrup
- Raisins
- Hard candies, jelly beans, or gumdrops
In the event of a severe hypoglycemia crisis, family members, colleagues, and other persons with whom you have a close relationship should be educated on how to give a glucagon injection. Prefilled syringes (Gvoke) and intranasal glucagon are now available, too, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Baqsimi). (7)
Type 2 Diabetes Medication and Treatment Options
With type 2 diabetes, you have various treatment choices available to you.
Options for Medications
Oral Glucophage (metformin) is one example of diabetes medicine that may be recommended to you.
When treating type 2 diabetes, metformin is the first-choice drug for many patients, but it’s not the only option.
Other notables:
Meglitinides and Sulfonylureas It is believed that this medication increases insulin production by activating the pancreatic beta cells. (8)
Inhibitors of Alpha-Glucosidase Certain carbohydrates may be slowed down to reduce blood sugar increases after eating, according to a report published in Diabetes Self-Management in November 2014.
A series of medications known as Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) helps stabilize blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity. (9)
When glucose levels rise, GLP-1 antagonists help enhance insulin production and decrease glucose absorption in the intestines, according to Diabetes.co.uk.
Inhibitors of DPP-4 According to Diabetes.co.uk, these medications prevent the body from breaking down GLP1, a hormone that boosts insulin production in response to glucose and inhibits glucose absorption from the stomach by blocking the activity of an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase-4.
Inhibitors of SGLT-2 It has been shown that these relatively new medications slow down the kidney’s reabsorption of glucose, allowing glucose to be released via the urine. This finding was reported in the journal Diabetes Therapy in December 2014
.
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
As well as using these medication alternatives, controlling DiabetesDiabetes properly requires a well-rounded approach: You’ll need to eat healthily, exercise; manage stress, and get enough sleep.
According to the Mayo Clinic, people with type 2 diabetes who are on a therapeutic keto diet and supplemented with particular nutrients have had some success in lowering their blood sugar and reversing their disease. (10)
If you’re considering one of these alternatives, talk to your doctor first, particularly if you’re on medicine or insulin. (11)
Self-Care
Taking care of yourself, such as by safeguarding your feet, brushing your teeth, and keeping an eye on your mental health, is an integral part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for people with diabetes. Having diabetes doubles your risk of depression; according to a report published in Current Diabetes Reports in June 2014, however healthcare practitioners often miss this diagnosis in patients.
According to research published in the Annals of Family Medicine in August 2015, one effective method to manage your mental health and general health while having type 2 diabetes is to get peer support.
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Type 2 Diabetes Insulin Options
Adding basal or bolus insulin to your treatment program may be necessary if oral or noninsulin injectable medicine, food, and lifestyle do not control your blood sugar levels.
This is how they differ:
Insulin is the blood between meals or at night when you’re sleeping; this form of insulin helps regulate your blood sugar, according to Johns Hopkins.
Insulin in boluses A fast- or rapid-acting kind of insulin is this type of insulin. According to Diabetes.co.uk, you should take it before a meal.
Type 2 Diabetes and Bariatric Surgery
If you have type 2 diabetes, a new study published in the journal Diabetes Care suggests that you may benefit from bariatric surgery as an additional treatment option. Some people may reverse their type 2 diabetes with this treatment, despite the hazards. (12)
What can you eat on a Type 2 Diabetes Diet?
The Mayo Clinic recommends that diabetics consume more fresh, complete foods like fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and whole grains rather than packaged, processed snacks like cookies and chips. If you want to lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity, a recent meta-analysis suggests that consuming meals rich in fiber may do so.
If you’re overweight, tracking your calorie consumption may be helpful, but everyone with type 2 diabetes should keep track of their carb intake. Carbs are found in a wide variety of everyday foods, making it difficult to eliminate them from your diet completely. However, there are good and bad carb sources. (13) On the other hand, pretzels and cookies are lousy providers of protein. Regarding diabetes management, timing is just as critical as what you consume. According to the Mayo Clinic, sticking to regular meal times might help keep your blood sugar levels stable.
Having diabetes does not exclude you from enjoying the meals you like. Essentially, a diabetic diet is a good diet for everyone! If you’re introducing new foods to your diet, consult with a registered dietitian-nutritionist (RDN) to develop a custom meal plan.
A “diabetic diet” isn’t a thing, but your food choices may make or break your blood sugar management. (14)
Consider working with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and certified diabetes educator (CDE) if you’re interested in a specialized diet plan. (15)
According to previous studies, (16) the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes consuming fish, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can aid in the management of type 2 diabetes. Carb counting is a helpful strategy for regulating blood sugar, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Low-carb diets also exist.
Does the Ketogenic Diet Work for Type 2 Diabetes?
Carbohydrate restriction is one of the most popular methods patients with type 2 diabetes seeks to reduce their blood sugar. Endocrinology & MetabolismMetabolism published a September 2018 review stating that carbohydrate counting is crucial if you have diabetes. Still, extreme diets like the ketogenic diet, which restricts carb consumption to less than 5% of your daily calorie intake, may be dangerous for specific individuals with the disease. (17)
To put your body into a natural metabolic state called ketosis, where it burns fat for energy rather than carbs, the ketogenic or “keto” diet calls for significantly increasing your fat intake while ingesting a moderate quantity of protein and a very low amount of carbohydrates. According to the Mayo Clinic, ketosis is not the same as diabetic ketoacidosis, a medical emergency when low insulin levels and ketones are high. When carbohydrate consumption is minimal, the body produces ketones, delivered into the bloodstream as a byproduct of Metabolism.
Suppose you’ve read a previous review that suggested that the ketogenic diet could help you lose weight quickly and even put your diabetes into remission. (18) In that case, you should consult your doctor to ensure that your nutritional needs are being met, (19) as another study published in April 2018 in Diabetes Therapy showed. As a diabetic, you must have this dialogue. There is a lack of long-term evidence despite short-term research showing the keto diet benefits glycemic management, weight loss, and medication reduction. (20)
These include low blood sugar, drug interactions, and vitamin deficiency. An international assessment published in February 2014 in Environmental Research and Public Health found that those who have renal damage or illness, pregnant and nursing women, and those at risk for heart disease because of their family history should avoid the keto diet.
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Type 2 diabetes cannot be prevented with certainty, but a healthy weight, a nutritious diet, and regular physical activity may help. To avoid type 2 diabetes, John Muir Health recommends reducing risk factors, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Type 2 Diabetes Complications
Many people with type 2 diabetes worry about amputations, heart problems, and eyesight loss as their illness progresses. But the fact that you have this sickness doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to a life of misery. (21)
Preventing Complications of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes long-term effects may be avoided and, in some circumstances, reversed or delayed by the following:
- regulation of blood sugar
- Controlling blood pressure
- lowering of cholesterol levels
At every doctor’s visit, you should address your degree of control (and ways to maintain or increase it) with your doctor.
As a diabetic who has been living with the disease for a long time or older, understanding your A1C target and levels is crucial, according to previous research. (22)
Type 2 Diabetes-Related Health Issues
Having an imbalance in your blood sugar may increase your chance of developing type 2 diabetes consequences such as blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
Ailments of the Heart According to the NHLBI, persons with diabetes have a higher chance of developing heart disease, developing it at a younger age. They have more severe types of heart disease than those without diabetes. Additionally, those with diabetes are almost twice as likely to die from cardiac disease than those without the condition. (23)
The CDC says that to reduce your risk of heart disease or treat it when present, you must make some lifestyle adjustments and may or may not need to take medication.
Retinopathy in diabetics Capillaries (tiny blood vessels) supplying nutrients to the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the inner eye’s back) becomes weakened in diabetic retinopathy.
It causes the capillaries in the middle of the eye to enlarge or get clogged—resulting in blurry vision. New blood vessels begin to form in the last stages of the disease.
According to the American Optometric Association, if these new arteries leak blood, they may cause significant vision loss or blindness.
Diabetic neuropathic The term “neuropathy” refers to damage to the body’s nerves as a whole. In most cases, peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves of the feet, legs, hands, and arms.
It is possible to experience tingling, burning, pain, or numbness in the afflicted regions due to peripheral neuropathy.
However, some people find topical capsaicin treatments beneficial in managing their peripheral neuropathy discomfort.
According to the Mayo Clinic, antidepressants and anticonvulsants may help decrease the discomfort produced by peripheral neuropathy.
Diabetic Kidney Disease (Kidney Disease) Chronically high blood sugar damages kidney nephrons, resulting in diabetic nephropathy.
The condition is exacerbated by high blood pressure, and excessive cholesterol also plays a role.
Standard blood and urine tests may identify early indications of malfunction in diabetic nephropathy, and therapy can halt or decrease its development if caught early enough.
According to the Mayo Clinic, 25 percent of diabetics may develop renal damage.
Ulcer in Diabetics Diabetes increases the incidence of foot ulcers in diabetics (open sores).
People with diabetic ulcers may not even be aware they have them at first since they are usually painless.
People with diabetes are more likely to be hospitalized because of foot ulcers, which may take several weeks to heal.
The Mayo Clinic stresses the necessity of checking your feet and legs frequently if you have diabetes. As a result, you’ll be able to spot diabetic ulcers more easily and seek treatment more quickly if necessary.
As a diabetic, you may also have sexual difficulties, gum disease, sleep apnea, and red or brown sores on your skin (diabetic dermopathy).
Research and Statistics: Who Has Type 2 Diabetes?
Nearly 30.3 million Americans have diabetes, with the vast majority suffering from type 2, as previously stated by the CDC.
According to estimates from the World Health Organization, more than 422 million individuals in the world had diabetes in 2014.
Both obesity and ethnicity are associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A BMI of 25 or more is associated with type 2 diabetes in the general population. In contrast, a BMI of 23 or higher is associated with the disease in Asian Americans. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, a BMI of 26 or larger is related to the illness among Pacific Islanders.
Type 2 Diabetes and BIPOC
A disproportionate number of persons from BIPOC populations have type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, these persons have a greater chance of contracting the illness than white people.
Prevalence of Diabetes
At 16.4 percent, black individuals had the highest prevalence of diabetes among ethnic groups, followed by Asians (14.9 percent), Hispanics (14.7 percent), and whites (10.1 percent), according to an HHS 2020 study (11.9 percent). According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in April 2017, young people of color, including Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans, are more likely than whites to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Complications
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), complications of this condition are more common among people of color, and these complications may lead to poorer health outcomes for those people, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). People of color are more likely than whites to suffer from microvascular consequences such as nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and other eye diseases. According to a study published in the journal Current Diabetes Reports, these populations are less likely than white Americans to have cardiovascular problems due to diabetes.
Lower limb amputation is over three times more common among African-Americans. They are over three times more likely to have end-stage renal disease and over three times more likely to be admitted to the hospital as a result of diabetic complications, according to the Office of Minority Health.
More recent research indicated that African-Americans had a greater chance of acquiring end-stage renal disease. In contrast, white Americans had a higher risk of suffering diabetes-related coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. (24)
The Death Rates
According to the Office of Minority Health, non-Hispanic Black Americans had a mortality rate for diabetes-related complications that was more than twice as high as non-Hispanic white Americans. According to previous studies, only white American participants in the study saw a drop in diabetes-related mortality throughout the trial (from 1993 to 2001). (25)
Possible Driving Factors Behind Health Disparities
Some of these inequalities in diabetes results may be traced back to a variety of factors, including a person’s socioeconomic situation and cultural beliefs. (26) Economic disparity and racial segregation have previously been linked to increased rates of diabetes mortality among African-Americans living in urban areas of the United States. (27) According to a study published in the Annals of Epidemiology in March 2018, differences in socioeconomic position among various races ethnicities are likely to account for some, not all, these discrepancies.
Issues of healthcare cost and access may hinder diabetes management in BIPOC communities. According to a study published in Population Research and Policy Review in April 2017, African Americans and Hispanic Americans are less likely than white Americans to have health insurance coverage. As a result, Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to rely on public insurance (which may come with higher out-of-pocket costs) than white Americans when seeking medical care. (28)
People of color are more likely than whites to get poor diabetes treatment. PLoS Medicine released a study in October 2019 suggesting that people with type 2 diabetes are less likely to undergo diabetes screening in the Journal of General Internal Medicine or be administered insulin or other diabetes management medications. According to a report published in February 2018 in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Differences, these variables may increase disparities in the risk of diabetes complications.
Type 2 diabetes risk may be assessed by taking the ADA’s 60-Second Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test, which considers a variety of variables, including your race or ethnicity.
Type 2 Diabetes and Associated Disorders and Conditions
There is no one cause for type 2 diabetes; however, some disorders are associated with it.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with some diseases, including: (29)
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Stroke
- Neuropathy
- Nephropathy
- Retinopathy
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
Comorbidities may be avoided if blood sugar levels are kept under control with proper nutrition, (30) exercise, and medication. According to research published in Diabetes Care in October 2018, peer support may also reduce hospitalization and rates of depression.
Tips for Aging Well With Type 2 Diabetes
According to previous studies, the longer you have diabetes, the more probable it is that you may acquire health issues due to the disease. (31)
Here are some pointers to help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your blood sugar under control: (32)
- Put your trust in your medical team, which may include an endocrinologist, a podiatrist, an RDE, and a CDE, amongst other experts. Your primary care physician typically handles diabetes management in most circumstances.
- Make sure to stick to your prescribed drug schedule and be open to any prescription changes,
- If your doctor tells you to, take insulin.
- Stop smoking, or at least try to give it up for a while.
- Eat foods that are safe for diabetics and limit your portion sizes.
- Maintain a regular exercise regimen.
- Make sure to check your blood sugar regularly.
COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes
The Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that people with type 2 diabetes are more prone to develop complications from COVID-19, the new coronavirus disease. It’s still possible to reduce this danger with reasonable blood sugar control.
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