Do you also suffer from Type 2 Diabetes? Let's talk about it simply.

Do you also feel tired all the time, thirsty? Or do you need to urinate frequently? You may think that these are normal things. However, these can be symptoms of a big change happening inside our body, namely Type 2 Diabetes. Don't worry, this is a very common condition among us in Sri Lanka. Let's talk about this very simply and in a friendly way today.

Simply put, what is Type 2 Diabetes?

This is a lifelong condition, but if managed properly, there is nothing stopping you from living a completely normal, healthy life.

Think about it this way, there is a hormone in our body that helps the cells convert the sugar (glucose) in the food we eat into energy, and it is called insulin . This insulin is made by an organ called our pancreas. In Type 2 diabetes, two main things happen:

1. Insulin Resistance: Even though your body produces insulin, your cells don't respond to it properly. It's like there's a key, but the key is stuck in your mouth. So the sugar in your blood can't get into your cells and builds up in your blood.

2. Not producing enough insulin: Over time, this insulin resistance causes the pancreas to work harder and produce more insulin. After a while, the pancreas becomes "tired" and cannot produce enough insulin.

In the past, this was called "adult-onset diabetes." But today, especially due to childhood obesity, this condition can occur in young people, even young children.

Do you have these symptoms too? Take a look.

The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are sometimes very subtle. That's why some people don't even know they have diabetes. Be aware of these symptoms.

What are the causes and risk factors for Type 2 diabetes?

There is no single cause for this. It is caused by a combination of factors. If you have several of these risk factors, you are more likely to develop diabetes.

Things you can't change

• Age: The risk is higher if you are over 45 years old.
• Family history: If your mother, father, brother, or sister has diabetes, you are also at higher risk.
• Genes: Some genetic influences can interfere with the production and function of insulin.

Things you can change (these are the most important!)

• Overweight or obesity: The more body weight you have, the higher your risk of developing insulin resistance.
• Lack of exercise: Lack of physical activity contributes to diabetes.
• High Blood Pressure: Even when controlled with medication, high blood pressure is a risk factor.
• Cholesterol levels: Decreased levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood and increased levels of triglycerides.
• Diet: Frequent consumption of foods high in sugar, oil, and flour.
• Smoking.
• Stress and lack of sleep.

Other health conditions

• Prediabetes: A condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. This is like a final warning.
• Gestational Diabetes: If you develop diabetes during pregnancy, you are at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later.
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): This condition, common among women, is also associated with insulin resistance.

How is diabetes diagnosed accurately?

If you have the above symptoms or risk factors, it is best to see a doctor and get a blood test. The test usually takes two days to confirm the diagnosis.

• A1c test: This measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. This is the most commonly used test.
• Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG): This is a blood test done after fasting (not eating anything for about 8 hours, drinking only water).
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): In this test, blood is first taken while fasting, then a sugary drink is given, and blood is taken again two hours later to see how the body responds to the sugar.

Treatment and Management: This is how we overcome this!

Managing type 2 diabetes is a combination of lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medication.

1. Lifestyle changes (this is the foundation!)

You may be able to control your blood sugar levels without medication, just by making lifestyle changes.

• A healthy diet:
• Reduce calories: Control the amount of food you eat. Make our rice bowl a little smaller and fill it with vegetables, greens, and fruits.
• Reduce sweets and flour: Limit things like sugar, sweetened drinks, cakes, biscuits, and bread as much as possible.
• Fiber-rich foods: Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oats, and nuts.
• Exercise:
• Do something like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming for at least 30 minutes a day.
• In addition to this, it would be better if you could add a few days a week of strength-building exercises like yoga and weight lifting.
• Weight loss:
• Even losing 5% - 7% of your body weight can have a significant positive impact on blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

2. Medication

If lifestyle changes alone cannot control your blood sugar levels, your doctor will prescribe medication.

Some commonly used medications:

• Metformin: This is often the first medication prescribed. It reduces the production of sugar by the liver and helps the body respond better to insulin.
• Sulfonylureas: These help the body produce more insulin.
• DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists: These are newer drugs and help control blood sugar levels in different ways.
• Insulin: In some cases, when other medications are not enough, insulin injections may be required. This is not the end of diabetes, but just another step in its control.

Let's prevent complications caused by diabetes.

Why do we work so hard to control diabetes? Because high blood sugar levels over a long period of time can damage vital organs in our body.

• Heart and blood vessels: The risk of heart attack and stroke doubles.
• Kidneys: There is a risk of kidney damage and failure.
• Eyes: The blood vessels in the eyes can be damaged and even lead to vision loss (Diabetic Retinopathy).
• Nerves: Damage to the nerves can cause loss of sensation in the limbs and digestive problems (Diabetic Neuropathy).
• Feet: Due to reduced blood circulation and nerve damage, there is a high chance that wounds on the feet will not heal and may become infected.

Don't be afraid of any of this. If you control your diabetes well, you can prevent many of these complications. Here are some things you can do:

• Taking medication on time.
• Maintaining a healthy diet.
• Exercising regularly.
• Regularly check your blood sugar levels as directed by your doctor.
• Regularly check your eyes, kidneys, and feet as advised by your doctor.

Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, sugar, blood sugar, insulin, diabetes symptoms, diabetes treatment, Metformin, Sri Lanka, diet, exercise