Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes
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Diabetes is often termed a metabolic disorder because it is the result of how we metabolize or use the food that we eat. Diabetics have a problem with the hormone insulin. Insulin is secreted when food is eaten, or more specifically, when carbohydrates are eaten and broken down to form glucose. Glucose enters the bloodstream and is used to provide energy to the cells of body. During this process the glucose levels in the blood return to a normal level. Returning the blood sugar level to normal is the job of insulin. In diabetics this often cannot be achieved and they have to either take insulin replacement therapy or some form of medication that makes the body more sensitive to the naturally occurring insulin. This article will discuss some of the health problems caused by type 2 diabetes. It will first differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. The immune system thinks that the beta cells in the pancreas, that create insulin, are foreign and destroys them. Type 2 diabetes is more to do with insulin resistance. The body continues to produce insulin but the body does not respond to the insulin as it used to. Diabetes during pregnancy is another type of diabetes that is similar to type 2 diabetes in that it is resistance to the naturally occurring insulin. Type 1 can be managed through a combination of insulin injection, proper diet and regular exercise. Type 2 is the same, except that there is often no need to inject insulin. In some cases medication may be needed to make the body more sensitive to insulin. Why Does Type 2 Diabetes Occur The cells in the body cannot recognize or process insulin. It is thought that the cells that develop this condition have lost the receptors that sense insulin secretion or simply there is not enough insulin being produced to deal with the amount of glucose in the body. People with a large belly are most at risk of developing type 2 diabetes because the fat cells in the abdominal area produce adipokines that are believed to reduce the body’s tolerance to insulin. Health Problems That Occur The cardiovascular, circulatory and immune systems are all affected by type 2 diabetes over an extended period of time depending on how meticulous the management of the disease is. If the disease is poorly managed then the blood sugar reading will be high for long periods of time. This affects the artery walls where the blood flows through by scoring the inner surfaces. This can make it easier for LDL cholesterol to stick to the inner walls resulting in atherosclerosis and inevitably heart disease. Diabetes leads to poor circulation which can result in eyes problems. One such problem is known as diabetic retinopathy. The small blood vessels that surround the eyes stop getting blood. The body responds by creating more small blood vessels but they have weakened walls that are prone to burst. This will leak blood and other matter into the eye. This can impair vision or lead to blindness if not treated. Poor circulation also leads to problems with the extremities of the body, notably the hands and feet. They do not get adequate supplies of blood that keep them healthy and more resistant to bacteria and infections. The nervous system is also affected in people with type 2 diabetes. This means problems with feet, like cuts or infections are not felt and go unnoticed because people rarely look or see their feet. The best treatment of type 2 diabetes is to manage your diet and exercise plans. Eat a balanced diet and get regular workouts. You may also try to lose weight if this is a problem as extra weight can worsen the condition. February 20 2008 11:09 pm | Diabetes 
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