{UAH} Health in Ugandan Communities: Recognizing the Sypmtoms of Type 2 Diabetes

Community Members.

Lately I have been hearing of more and more people in my age group (ie. over 50) being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  As such, I thought I would do a little research of this ailment and pass the information along to you as a serious concern.

Men and Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, once called non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90% to 95% of the 13 million men with diabetes.

Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin; however, the insulin their pancreas secretes is either not enough or the body is unable to recognize the insulin and use it properly. This is called insulin resistance. When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, sugar (glucose) can't get into the body's cells to be used for fuel. When sugar builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly. Other problems associated with the build up of sugar in the blood include:

Dehydration:  The build up of sugar in the blood can cause an increase in urination (to try to clear the sugar from the body).  When the kidneys lose the sugar through the urine, a large amount of water is also lost, causing dehydration.

Hyperosmolar nonketotic biabetic coma.  When a person with type 2 diabetes becomes severely dehydrated and is not able to drink enough fluids to make up for the fluid losses, they may develop this life-threatening complication.

Damage to the body. Over time, high sugar levels in the blood may damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and predispose a person to atherosclerosis (hardening) of the large arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke.

Who Gets Type 2 Diabetes?

Anyone can get type 2 diabetes. However, those at highest risk for the disease are those who are obese or overweight, women who have had gestational diabetes, people with family members who have type 2 diabetes and people who have metabolic syndrome (a cluster of problems that include high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low good 'HDL' cholesterol and a high bad 'LDL' cholesterol, and high blood pressure). In addition, older people are more susceptible to developing the disease since aging makes the body less tolerant of sugars.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Although it is more common than type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is less well understood. It is likely caused by multiple factors and not a single problem.

Type 2 diabetes can run in families, but the exact nature of how it's inherited or the identity of a single genetic factor is not known.

What Are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes vary from person to person but may include:

-     Increase thrist

-     Increased hunger (especially after eating)

-     Dry Mounth

-     Nausea and occasionally vomiting

-     Frequent urination

-     Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)

-     Blurred Vision

-    Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

-     Frequent infections of the skin or urinary tract

What can you do to minimize the risk of Type 2 diabetes

You can play a major role in managing prediabetes and preventing it from turning into type 2 diabetes.  Actions you can take include the following.

Watch your weight

Losing 5% to 10% of your body weight may help you prevent or at least delay type 2 diabetes.⁶ For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, losing 10 to 20 pounds can reduce your risk.

Losing weight can also lower insulin resistance. The more you lose, the more you benefit, as long as you do it in a healthy way.²

Losing weight can be hard, but you can do it. The easiest way to start is by cutting calories and becoming more active. For help, see the topic Weight Management and:

Healthy Eating: Recognizing Your Hunger Signals.

Healthy Eating: Getting Support When Changing Your Eating Habits.

Fitness: Adding More Activity to Your Life.

Make healthy food choices

Planning meals to manage prediabetes can often mean looking at food in a new way. There are several easy ways to make healthy changes to the way you eat. One way to start is by eating foods that are low in saturated fat and high in fiber. Or you might try cutting down on foods that are high in calories but low in nutrition, such as soda.

A registered dietitian can help you make a meal plan that fits your lifestyle.

Get active

The more active you are, the more sugar (glucose) your body uses for energy. This keeps the sugar from building up in your blood.

Don't worry. You don't have to sign up for a gym membership or train for a marathon to get the activity you need to manage prediabetes. Even everyday activities can help.

Try to do moderate activity at least 2½ hours a week. Or try to do vigorous activity at least 1¼ hours a week. It's fine to be active in blocks of 10 minutes or more throughout your day and week.

Any type of activity helps, including walking, jogging, swimming or biking.

Moderate activity is safe for most people, but it's always a good idea to talk to your doctor before you start an exercise program.

Do NOT Smoke.

Control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Get more sleep

See your doctor more often