Over recent years I’m sure you have heard diabetes talked about on TV and in the media. Perhaps you know of someone who has the condition. But you may not know there are a few different types and there are differences between them.
Diabetes is a common disease, it’s on the rise. According to Diabetes UK, statistics from 2021 show that over 4 million people are living with diabetes. There are 1 million who could have the condition but don’t even know they have it. About 90% of people who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
At one time, it was thought when you have type 2 diabetes, you’re stuck with it and can’t do anything about it. But through research, it has been proven that type 2 diabetes can be reduced by 50%. You can put it into what is called remission. Which is through significant changes to the lifestyle. By things like improving your diet and activity. The reason it’s called remission is that you can’t get rid of it because if you change the lifestyle factors back to what they were before, then it can come back.
What is diabetes?
There are about three different types of diabetes and they are different. Type 1 is where your body can’t make any of the hormone called insulin at all, you can’t reverse it. Type 2 diabetes is when your pancreas can’t produce enough insulin or the body is not responding in the way that it should to insulin. There is also a third type that can occur when pregnant called Gestational Diabetes. We will focus on Type 2 here because it is the one that is related mostly to lifestyle and how much body fat you carry.
What contributes to type 2 diabetes
Now because type 2 is largely a lifestyle condition in some people, but there are other outside factors. Which means if you are overweight or obese, you can make changes to the foods and drinks you consume and your general activity. The factors outside of lifestyle that can put them at higher risk. Like genetics, some ethnic groups, family history, like parents who have been diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Your age, so as you get older you may be at higher risk.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms
There are some symptoms you may have if you have the condition. However, not everyone with the condition has symptoms. So you may have type 2 diabetes and not know you have it. Some of these symptoms are.
- Blurred vision
- Feeling very tired
- Needing to go to the toilet a lot more often
- Feeling very thirsty
- Losing weight without intension
- Cuts and wounds take more time to heal
- Genital itching or thrush
If you have any symptoms or anything unusual, I would recommend seeing your doctor. Where you can get a blood test. Which can tell you if you have type 2 diabetes or if you are at high risk of developing it.
How to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes?
Starting off I am not a doctor or registered dietician, so I can’t diagnose or treat. However, I can give provide general diet advice and exercise advice to improve the lifestyle. Which can help you to lose fat from the body.
So look at what your current lifestyle looks like. One of the biggest factors for developing this condition is lifestyle. You should look at how much you are moving. So if you’re not getting much movement day to day. Decrease your time sitting and increase your movement. Then your diet, what food choices you’re making. Going back to being overweight being a risk factor, controlling your calorie intake is important to managing a healthy body weight. Ensure you’re eating foods that are high in protein to help keep you full. Get plenty of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains to help you to get enough fibre in your diet.
Although there are some aspects of type 2 diabetes that we can not control. We can always control our food, fluid choices, and how physically active we are. To help us maintain a healthy weight and generally maintain a healthier lifestyle, to reduce some risks of the condition.
