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Of the three main types of diabetes, Diabetes 2, or Type 2
diabetes is the most common. There is rising evidence that it is
becoming even more prevalent now due to the higher incidence of
obesity. Fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin and
that is what causes diabetes, either the inability of the body to
use insulin or the body’s inability to produce insulin. Diabetes 2
used to be called Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes or Adult Onset
Diabetes.
When we eat food, the body breaks it down into sugars, or glucose,
that our cells use to grow or create energy. The pancreas secretes a
hormone, insulin, which allows the glucose to enter the cells. With
diabetes 2, the insulin is prevented from doing its job and the
glucose builds up in the bloodstream until it is passed out of the
body in the urine as waste.
While there are other contributing factors, for many people with
diabetes their weight is the primary issue. When Diabetes 2 is
detected in a patient, usually by a screening test called a fasting
blood glucose level, the first line of defense in the treatment plan
is diet and exercise. Usually some weight loss is prescribed, but
the main objective is to change the eating habits of the patient.
Exercise, usually starting slowly with a brisk walk every day or
other low-impact choices, such as bike riding or swimming, is
strongly suggested.
A diagnosis of diabetes no longer means the patient is put on a
strict diet with no sugar, it has been found that eating sugar is
not necessarily the problem. Eating a balanced diet based on the
diabetic food pyramid is the best way to treat diabetes 2. Once a
diagnosis of diabetes has been reached, the patient is sent to a
dietician or nutritionist to work on a meal plan. Sometimes it is as
easy as eating mostly the same foods the patient has been eating,
just reducing the portions and eating at regular times. Adding
exercise to the daily routine will result in more calories being
burned and for most patients, weight loss.
Daily monitoring of blood sugar levels tracks the patient’s progress
with diabetes 2. If the healthy eating plan and exercise are working
to keep blood glucose levels maintained, oral medications may not be
necessary. Diabetes 2 is a chronic condition, however, and
management of the disease must be a lifelong commitment.
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