What is type 2 diabetes, how can I prevent it?
- Shirley Hernandez
- 16 feb 2019
- 2 Min. de lectura
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is the inability to introduce the sugar which is being transported in blood inside cells after a meal. This process of including sugar into cells occurs by the insulin activity a hormone produced by the pancreas which is opening receptors inside the cells wall. When these receptors are unable to respond to the insulin command, then high loads of sugar starts to accumulate in blood affecting important organs as eyes (vision loss), kidneys failure, and heart disease.
Commonly patients report symptoms as polyuria (very frequent urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyphagia (excessive appetite) or can develop changes in their blood sugar tests finding increased values. The most important thing is to take action as early as possible avoiding harmful effects on the heart, retina, and kidneys, among others.
How can I prevent type 2 diabetes?
The most important is to keep blood sugar (glucose) levels under 110 mg/dl, it means, do not allow that glucose blood levels increased over 200 mg/dl, given the kidneys cannot bare those levels of glucose, representing permanent damage for their filtering system. Additionally, collateral damage to retina, and heart, that is why is essential increase the number of receptors for insulin into cells, and one way to increase them is producing an urgent need of insulin production into pancreas, to do it, is absolutely necessary to change the current sedentary lifestyles, overweight, and eating habits, by performing physical activity at one hour per day four days a week, reducing at least 15-20 percent of BMI, and incorporating five portions of vegetables, and five portions of fruits per day.
It has been evidenced that small but meaningful lifestyle changes in people reduce glucose levels, increasing cells receptors of insulin and prevent damage to important organs, delaying the appearance of type 2 diabetes as a disease.
Who are in high risk to develop type 2 diabetes?
People who are at risk for type 2 diabetes are:
Persons with a family history of type 2 diabetes.
Persons whose BMI is 25.0 to <30 (overweight), or BMI is 30.0 to higher (obese).
Persons whose waist circumference is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men.
Persons who are not doing physical activity regularly.
Persons who have poor eating habits, fewer proteins, greater carbohydrates, and more sugar.
Persons who are not drinking enough water, or are substituting natural fruit juices by soda, sweetened beverages, or premixed artificial to dissolve.
How can I prevent type 2 diabetes?
Check your family history of type 2 diabetes.
Check your blood sugar (glucose) regularly.
Schedule an appointment with a primary care provider annually.
Be aware of signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes and check if you have at least two of them.
Consider doing physical activity at least four days a week.
Change your eating habits.
Keep a healthy weight a BMI 18.5 to 24.9 approximately.
Reduce your waist circumference at least 10-15 percent
Increase your water intake reducing sweetened beverages or artificial.
