Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes has become so widespread that health experts around the world are calling it “an epidemic.” They also predict that the number of people with type 2 diabetes will continue to increase, due largely to an aging and overweight population.
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body's ability to make or use insulin. When we eat, glucose is produced and the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas, allows the glucose to enter the cells to be used as energy. However, if you have type 1 diabetes, your body doesn't produce any insulin at all. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body can't use the insulin it produces.
In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, glucose begins to build up in the bloodstream. If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin every day for the rest of your life; with type 2 diabetes, you will need to maintain a healthy weight, monitor blood sugar levels and perhaps take diabetes medication.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and statistics show that around 85 percent of people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight. If you have type 2 diabetes, you will work with your physician to develop a healthy exercise and weight loss or weight management plan.
“Patients who have type 2 diabetes can make some very important lifestyle changes to lower their blood sugars, and even potentially normalize their blood sugars,” says Dr. Richard Bebb, an endocrinologist active in the Men's Health Initiative of BC. “Ideally, this is slow, controlled weight loss and regular exercise, and also the composition of the food and how frequently you eat. Many people who gain weight have fallen into a pattern of having one or two meals a day. Having smaller, more frequent food intake is critical to control blood sugars and weight.”
Patients with type 2 diabetes need to work hard at living a healthy lifestyle, and it's important to realize that change won't happen overnight. However, if you are committed to taking responsibility for your diabetes management and working closely with your healthcare team, type 2 diabetes can be effectively controlled.
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