Diagnosing and Treating Type 2 Diabetes

People often talk about Adult Onset Diabetes. The thing is we have to know what are the symptoms to this disease so we can be aware if we have it.

It is interesting to note that the word diabetes comes from ‘passing through’ and mellitus is ‘honey’. To put it simply and in a more sensible manner, the high levels of sugar in a person’s urine is pretty much like honey passing through. Adult Onset Diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes is characterized by the high levels of the glucose level in the bloodstream. This results to spilling over in the urine. It is also associated with an increase of carbohydrates in diets.

At the moment, adult onset diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US., but there’s good news to this disappointing statistic. 90% of the diabetics who are non-insulin dependent can be cured as long as they achieve their ideal weight and by practicing a healthy lifestyle and having a balanced diet.

Other causes for insulin deficiency are toxic reaction to nitroso compounds, auto-immune disease and viral infection of the beta cells found in the pancreas. When not cured, risks include stroke, atherosclerosis, premature heart disease, blindness, pancreatic failure and gangrene of the limbs. Also, it runs in the family. If a family member has diabetes, chances are people in his blood line have more risk of getting it too if they do not watch what they eat.

A person’s diet is quite critical in regulating diabetes. Doctors recommend a healthy nutritional approach. In fact there are so many ways to regulate Diabetes Mellitus - from botanical medicine to traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy and psychological approaches. Prevention is better than cure so the best way to control the disease is to simply regulate what you eat. If you have a sweet tooth the very minute you get up from bed, a grilled cheese sandwich might be a better breakfast as opposed to donuts and coffee.

Steer clear of pastry treats, cookies, pasta and soda-pop. You can have these but in moderation. If this is your diet day in and day out, expect the doctor to be diagnosing you with diabetes. You cannot change your diet overnight, but it can be done slowly and patiently with persistence. Since we are used to eating this and that, it’s hard to ignore the treats that we enjoyed before. But think of it this way, it is for your own good. This change in diet can be done. Plus, it puts you at less risk in getting diabetes.

Here’s a secret. Have a diet that does not contain sugar and high complex carbohydrates. Refined sugar is a carbohydrate that has been chemically altered through bleaching and processing. Examples of foods to ignore include cookies, candy, pastries, boxed cereal, alcohol, honey, soda pops, pizza and ice cream.

The symptoms of adult onset diabetes Type 2 include the following:

• frequent urination
• increased appetite
• increased thirst
• blurred vision
• fatigue
• slow-healing or frequent infections
• inability to have an erection

In order for the person to be sure that he has Type 2 Diabetes, the following examinations can be conducted:

• blood glucose level. If the level is above 126 mg/dL during two incidences, the diagnosis is possibly diabetes
• random blood glucose level testing – if the level is above 200 mg/dL and the person has the symptoms mentioned earlier, the diagnosis is possibly diabetes
• oral glucose test - if the level is above 200 mg/dL, the diagnosis is possibly diabetes.

People ask how to treat Type 2 diabetes. First, you have to eradicate the causes. You should also regulate the glucose level in the body. By continually doing this, the goal is achieved and a person with diabetes can have a longer life. The key to remember is that the main treatment for adult onset diabetes is diet and exercise.

Plan your meals and choose healthy foods. Eat the right amount and eat meals on schedule. In your free time, learn how much exactly fat, carbohydrates and protein you need in a balanced diet. Meal plans can be customized depending on your preferences and food habits.

Everybody’s advised to exercise regularly. This is a necessity if you’re diagnosed with diabetes because it controls the glucose level in your body. It also burns the extra calories and fat. That helps you mange your weight. In addition, it also helps you to cope with stress better. Adult onset diabetes may have these symptoms detailed here, but a consultation with a medical practicioner is the sensible path to take as soon as you suspect you may have diabetes.

What You Should Know: What are Treatment and Prevention Options?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that requires life-long treatment by changes in lifestyle AND by medications. Medication and lifestyle changes are not a cure for diabetes, but they can help reduce or eliminate organ damage due to diabetes. Both lifestyle changes and medication reduce the risk of the serious complications that can result from diabetes, such as heart, kidney, eye, and nerve damage.

Lifestyle
As with many other chronic conditions, in type 2 diabetes it is very important that you learn about the lifestyle changes and preventive approaches that will help you live with and manage your condition. Some of these are listed here - be sure to discuss them with your doctor.

Diabetes Education Classes are very important to help you learn the things you need to know to manage your diabetes and keep yourself as healthy as possible. There are professional educators including certified diabetes educators and dietitians that specialize in diabetes education. These classes are often covered by insurance. Be sure the classes have certification by the American Diabetes Association. Some of the things you will learn about in these classes are:

• Weight - This is extremely important in type 2 diabetes. By losing weight, you may be able to bring your type 2 diabetes under control. A structured weight-loss program that includes frequent meetings has been found to be the most helpful for people trying to lose weight.
• Diet - How much you eat, what you eat, and how often you eat are important to managing type 2 diabetes. Since this is an important and complex issue, guidelines recommend that patients be taught about proper diet by a registered dietitian. Eating a proper diet is critical, because this can help reduce glucose levels in your blood and maintain a healthy weight.
• Blood Sugar - You will learn how and when to test your blood sugar. If you need to use insulin injections, you will learn how to give yourself the injections.
• Exercise - Regular physical activity is very important to managing type 2 diabetes because it helps keep weight down. Diabetes is also easier to control when you exercise because it can lower blood sugar levels. However, you must first check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. Since cardiovascular problems are not uncommon, a cardiovascular evaluation is required before starting any exercise program.
• Smoking Cessation - It is very important that people with diabetes not smoke. Smoking increases your risk for complications. If you smoke, you will learn tips and resources for quitting smoking.

Drug Therapy
Here are the most common classes of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes:

• Sulfonylureas - used to stimulate the pancreas to release insulin.
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors - used to reduce the amount of starch you body absorbs.
• Biguanides - used to reduce the amount of glucose produced and increase sensitivity to insulin.
• Meglitinides - used to stimulate the pancreas to release insulin with each meal.
• Thiazolidinediones - used to increase sensitivity to insulin.
• Synthetic hormones - use can vary for each.
• Insulin - used to replace insulin that is lacking.

All of these drugs are oral medications (pills) except for insulin and synthetic hormones, which are only available as injections at this time. An inhaled form of insulin has been approved by the FDA. An oral insulin preparation is also being tested.

Complication-Related Medications
You may also be prescribed other medications to treat other conditions you have because of your diabetes. Examples include ACE inhibitors or ARB’s to treat or prevent kidney complications, statins to lower risk of heart disease, and aspirin to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Team Approach
Diabetes is a very complex disease. The American Diabetes Association’s standards indicate that diabetes is best controlled by a physician-coordinated team. As an example, the team can include physicians, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, exercise physiologists, and mental health professionals. Other professionals can be included as well. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Feel free to request a referral to such multidisciplinary teams for education as well as treatment. The key to success is for the patient to be an active participant in his or her own care.