The long-term treatment of type 2 diabetes has the following main goals:
- the prevention of microangiopathic complications—retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy;
- the prevention of macroangiopathic complications—myocardial infarction, stroke, limb loss;
- restoration of quality of life;
- improvement in accompanying illnesses;
- patient satisfaction and adherence;
What is it like to live with Type 2 diabetes?
- Develop a healthy eating and activity plan
- Test your blood sugar and keep a record of the results
- Recognize the signs of high or low blood sugar and what to do about it
- If needed, give yourself insulin by syringe, pen, or pump
- Monitor your feet, skin, and eyes to catch problems early
- Buy diabetes supplies and store them properly
What exactly is diabetes type 2?
What are the warning signs of Type 2 diabetes?
- Increased thirst.
- Frequent urination.
- Increased hunger.
- Unintended weight loss.
- Fatigue.
- Blurred vision.
- Slow-healing sores.
- Frequent infections.
How does a person acquire diabetes?
- Family history. Your risk increases if a parent or sibling has type 1 diabetes.
- Environmental factors. Circumstances such as exposure to a viral illness likely play some role in type 1 diabetes.
- The presence of damaging immune system cells (autoantibodies). ...
- Geography. ...
How easy is it to get diabetes?
- Avoid ALL refined carbohydrates. ...
- Avoid ALL added sugar. ...
- Avoid ALL sweet drinks. ...
- Do not be scared of good quality, healthy, natural fat – avocados, olives, almonds etc. ...
- Do not waste your energy counting calories. ...
- FEED YOUR GUT BUGS, not just yourself. ...
- Do my 5 minute kitchen workout once a day. ...
β-CELL DYSFUNCTION AND TYPE 2 DIABETES: IN VIVO STUDIES
Several cross-sectional and prospective studies showed that β-cell dysfunction plays a major role in determining the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes.
β-CELL DYSFUNCTION AND TYPE 2 DIABETES: HISTOLOGICAL AND EX VIVO STUDIES
The role of reduced β-cell mass in human type 2 diabetes, the primary importance of β-cell apoptosis, and the insufficiency of replication/neogenesis have been studied by several authors using histological pancreatic samples, or isolated islets.
β-CELL PRESERVATION BY CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPIES: IN VIVO STUDIES
As aforementioned, research performed in different categories of subjects by cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, together with histological analysis and ex vivo islet investigations, strongly suggest that β-cell failure is crucial for the onset of diabetes and progressive deterioration of glycemic control.
β-CELL PRESERVATION BY CURRENT PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPIES: EX VIVO STUDIES
The possibility that pancreatic β-cell damage can be prevented, or even reverted, has been tested in isolated human nondiabetic islets exposed to different metabolic perturbations and, more importantly, with islets from type 2 diabetic donors. In early work, it was assessed whether metformin could affect the phenomenon of glucotoxicity ( 39 ).
CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction is key to the development and progression of type 2 diabetes. Both altered β-cell function and decreased β-cell mass are likely to contribute to the defects in insulin release typical of diabetes. These defects cause a progressive increase of glucose levels, with deterioration of glycemic control over the years.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (PRIN 2007–2008).
What to do if you can't maintain your target blood sugar level?
If you can't maintain your target blood sugar level with diet and exercise, your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications that help lower insulin levels or insulin therapy. Drug treatments for type 2 diabetes include the following.
What is the normal blood sugar level for Type 2 diabetes?
This blood test indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Results are interpreted as follows: Below 5.7% is normal. 5.7% to 6.4% is diagnosed as prediabetes.
How does weight loss surgery help?
Weight-loss surgery changes the shape and function of your digestive system. This surgery may help you lose weight and manage type 2 diabetes and other conditions related to obesity. There are various surgical procedures, but all of them help you lose weight by limiting how much food you can eat.
Why do we need wellness visits?
Keeping your annual wellness visits enables your health care provider to screen for diabetes and to monitor and treat conditions that increase your risk of diabetes — such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a high BMI.
How does SGLT2 affect kidney function?
SGLT2 inhibitors affect the blood-filtering functions in your kidneys by inhibiting the return of glucose to the bloodstream. As a result, glucose is excreted in the urine. These drugs may reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with a high risk of those conditions.
How long does it take to retest blood sugar?
If you have signs or symptoms of low blood sugar, drink or eat something that will quickly raise your blood sugar level — fruit juice, glucose tablets, hard candy or another source of sugar. Retest your blood in 15 minutes.
What does a blood sugar level of 200 mean?
Regardless of when you last ate, a level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher suggests diabetes, especially if you also have signs and symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination and extreme thirst. Fasting blood sugar test.
How to manage type 2 diabetes?
To manage type 2 diabetes, you might be advised to make lifestyle changes. Your doctor might instruct you to check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis. They might also prescribe oral medications or other treatments. You may feel like there are a large number of changes to make — and that’s where goal-setting comes in.
What can a healthcare team do to help you with diabetes?
Your healthcare team can help you set and meet goals to manage type 2 diabetes. For example, your doctor or nurse practitioner might refer you to a registered dietitian to develop a meal plan that meets your healthy eating or weight loss goals. Or, they might refer you to a physical therapist to develop an exercise plan that’s safe for you.
What is the A1C target?
To track your blood sugar levels over time , they will use the A1C test. This blood test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. According to the American Diabetes Association, a reasonable A1C target for many adults who aren’t pregnant is less than 7 percent (53 mmol/mol).
How to lower blood sugar levels?
adjusting your eating habits. getting more exercise. getting more sleep. reducing stress. testing your blood sugar levels more often. taking your prescribed medications more consistently. Even small changes to your habits might make a positive difference to your blood sugar levels or overall health.
Why is it important to keep your blood sugar level within a target range?
Keeping your blood sugar within a target range helps to lower your risk of complications from type 2 diabetes. Adopting healthy habits can help you achieve and maintain that target range.
Why is it important to set specific goals?
It’s also important to set goals that are specific. Setting specific goals helps you know what you want to achieve and when you’ve achieved them. This may help you make concrete progress.
What are some examples of specific goals?
Other examples of specific goals include: Think about what you want to achieve, what steps you’ll take to achieve it, and when you want to achieve it by.
Treatment goals
Treatment goals are at the center of a diabetes type 2 care plan, because they dictate what the care plan must include.
Blood glucose monitoring
Care plans need to include a section on checking blood glucose. The section will list the type of glucose meter a person uses and the target blood glucose level before meals.
Treatment for high or low blood sugar
The care plan will outline treatment according to someone’s blood glucose levels. This includes cases of low or high blood sugar.
Diet and exercise
The plan may also include information on nutrition and cooking meals for someone with type 2 diabetes.
When does Type 2 diabetes start?
Type 2 diabetes most often develops in people over age 45, but more and more children, teens, and young adults are also developing it.
How can parents help prevent diabetes?
Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family: Drinking more water and fewer sugary drinks. Eating more fruits and vegetables. Making favorite foods healthier. Making physical activity more fun.
How to check blood sugar?
Recognize the signs of high or low blood sugar and what to do about it. If needed, give yourself insulin by syringe, pen, or pump. Monitor your feet, skin, and eyes to catch problems early. Buy diabetes supplies and store them properly.
How does diabetes affect children?
Childhood obesity rates are rising, and so are the rates of type 2 diabetes in youth. More than 75% of children with type 2 diabetes have a close relative who has it, too. But it’s not always because family members are related; it can also be because they share certain habits that can increase their risk. Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family: 1 Drinking more water and fewer sugary drinks 2 Eating more fruits and vegetables 3 Making favorite foods healthier 4 Making physical activity more fun
How many children with diabetes have a close relative?
More than 75% of children with type 2 diabetes have a close relative who has it, too. But it’s not always because family members are related; it can also be because they share certain habits that can increase their risk. Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family:
Who manages diabetes?
Unlike many health conditions, diabetes is managed mostly by you, with support from your health care team (including your primary care doctor, foot doctor, dentist, eye doctor, registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator, and pharmacist), family, and other important people in your life. Managing diabetes can be challenging, but everything you do to improve your health is worth it!
What is it called when your pancreas doesn't respond to insulin?
If you have type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin; this is called insulin resistance. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Eventually your pancreas can’t keep up, and your blood sugar rises, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Diagnosis
Treatment
- Management of type 2 diabetes includes: 1. Healthy eating 2. Regular exercise 3. Weight loss 4. Possibly, diabetes medication or insulin therapy 5. Blood sugar monitoring These steps will help keep your blood sugar level closer to normal, which can delay or prevent complications.
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Careful management of type 2 diabetes can reduce your risk of serious — even life-threatening — complications. Consider these tips: 1. Commit to managing your diabetes.Learn all you can about type 2 diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. 2. Work with your team.Establish a relationship with a diabetes educator, and ask your diabetes treatment tea…
Alternative Medicine
- Many alternative medicine treatments claim to help people living with diabetes. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, studies haven't provided enough evidence to recommend any alternative therapies for blood sugar management. Research has shown the following results about popular supplements for type 2 diabetes: 1. Chromiumsupple…
Coping and Support
- Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease, and following your diabetes treatment plan takes round-the-clock commitment. To meet the demands of diabetes management, you may need a good support network. Anxiety and depression are common in people living with diabetes. Talking to a counselor or therapist may help you cope with the lifestyle changes or stressors that come with …
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Keeping your annual wellness visits enables your health care provider to screen for diabetes and to monitor and treat conditions that increase your risk of diabetes — such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or a high BMI. If you are seeing your health care provider because of symptoms that may be related to diabetes, you can prepare for your appointment by being ready to answer …