Type 2 diabetes is a challenging but controllable disorder, according to endocrinologist and University of Illinois (UI) health professor Dr. Yuval Eisenberg, who recently detailed the basics of diabetic self-care in a university-published online article.
Eisenberg summed up the condition as the body’s failure to respond appropriately to the self-produced hormone insulin, which normally regulates the entry of glucose (sugar) into cells, leading to high blood-sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes tends for it to develop gradually, become more likely with obesity or age and trigger more serious long-term issues if left unmanaged, according to the article. Other contributing factors include smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise and family history.
Because of its slow onset, the condition may not be diagnosed right away. Early symptoms include increased thirst, urination and hunger; weight loss; fatigue; and impaired vision, as well as impaired healing from infection, according to the article.
“People with type 2 diabetes are also at a higher risk of developing heart diseases and strokes,” Eisenberg said. “Type 2 diabetes can also damage the eyes, nerves and kidneys. Most of these complications can be prevented by keeping the blood sugar under control. Lifestyle changes and regular preventive care visits to a doctor can help keep minor complications from becoming more serious ones.”
