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Common Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes

Author: AdrianFletcher
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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 referred to as an auto-immune disorder. The body's immune system thinks that the cells that produce insulin are pathogens and destroys them. In type 2 diabetes, insulin is still produced but the cells become resistant to the actions of the hormone. Another form of the disease is known as gestational diabetes. It is similar to type 2 diabetes but only occurs during pregnancy and stops after the birth.

The ongoing treatment for type 1 is consistent exercise, a balanced diet and insulin replacement therapy. Type 2 is treated similarly, through exercise and diet. It generally does not need insulin replacement therapy but may need medication to make the body more responsive to the normally occurring 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.

Resulting Health Issues

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.

Poor circulation is another problem brought about by type 2 diabetes. Poor circulation can lead to a number of problems including eye conditions. Diabetic retinopathy is one such example. The capillaries that bring blood to the eyes die because they stop getting blood. This forces the body to create more capillaries to support the eyes but they are weaker than the original capillaries and may burst or leak blood. this goes into the eye and can cloud the vision or even lead to blindness.

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.

In regions like the feet, cuts and bruising are often ignored or unnoticed. For diabetics this is more so because the nervous system in these areas of the body and in general is weaker than other people. This means aches and pains that may warn or indicate that there is a problem are not felt by diabetics.

Treating type 2 diabetes revolves around getting the right foods and partaking in regular exercise. Work out a proper, balanced diabetic diet with a dietitian. Do physical activities that you enjoy to begin with and then build up your level of exercise. Consult a doctor before starting a new regime.

About the Author

Get more on diabetes diet plans at www.diabeticdietsplan.com. The site deals with diets and eating nutritious diabetic foods and some common symptoms of diabetes.