Type 2 Diabetes!

In our previous post, we spoke about Type 1 Diabetes, which is also known as the juvenile Diabetes, which occurs due to lack of insulin secretion from the pancreas. So now, let’s move on to the next type of Diabetes, which is the Type 2 Diabetes, which is the most common type and is also known as a “Lifestyle Disease”.

As we already spoke in our previous posts, an inactive, lazy and unhealthy lifestyle is becoming a major cause for Diabetes in India. With our growing dependency on technology, our lifestyle is going off track, leading to weight gain and lethargy, which are the two main causes of Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that results in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels). It occurs due to the body’s inability to produce insulin, thanks to our current lifestyle. It is also known as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset Diabetes, as it is frequent mostly in people who are over 40 years of age. But unfortunately, type 2 Diabetes is now becoming more common in young adults, teens and children as well. It accounts for roughly 90% of all Diabetes cases worldwide. A highly unhealthy and inactive lifestyle which is stressful, high dependency on fast food, packaged food, alcohol and nicotine are all reasons that trigger this type of Diabetes.

Here are some symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes which are similar to Type 1 Diabetes:

• Weight Gain or Weight Loss: People suffering from Type 2 Diabetes often end up losing a lot of weight or vice versa.
• Increased Hunger: You will find people with Type 2 Diabetes snacking on unhealthy and junk food. This is the kind of lifestyle that they have accepted, which doesn’t allow them to control the condition of their body.
• Frequent Urination: If the blood glucose level increases, it leads to excessive urination. This happens because the body needs to get rid of all the excessive sugar/glucose from the blood through the kidneys. In this process, the kidneys also filter out more water which makes one urinate more than usual.

The first line of treatment for Type 2 Diabetes typically includes a combination of diet modification and control, regular and appropriate exercise and tablet medication. People with type 2 Diabetes can also benefit greatly from testing their blood sugar levels from time to time.

Now you know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, which occurs due to different reasons but the symptoms and treatments are more or less, the same. Testing the glucose level in the blood, with a combination of a healthy diet and exercise can help one prevent and control Diabetes. The next type of Diabetes that we will talk about is Gestational diabetes. We will also tell you the causes and symptoms. Stay tuned for that.