Type 2 Diabetes: Symptoms, Treatment, Diet

Diabetes is a common health problem that is affecting thousands of people nowadays. It is a medical condition in which sugar or glucose levels rise higher than normal in your blood stream. This is also called hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes is most common form of diabetes.  If you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly. This situation is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas make extra insulin to make up for it. But over the time, it is not able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.

Type 2 diabetes develops gradually, over years, so the symptoms may be mild and easy to dismiss at first. The early symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, constant hunger, lack of energy, itchy skin, dry mouth, weight loss and excessive thirst. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more severe and potentially dangerous. If your blood sugar levels have been high for long time, the symptoms may include yeast infection, foot pain, dark patches on your skin and slow healing cuts and sores. If you see any of the symptoms from above, chances are high that you are prone to diabetes and you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. Diabetes have a powerful impact on your heart. People who are suffering with this are at the higher risk of getting cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level and many others. 

Following type 2 diabetes diet does not mean you have to give up the things you love, you can still enjoy a wide range of foods. The best diet for diabetes patients is one that which include a variety of healthy carbohydrates, fates and proteins. If you are suffering from type 2 diabetes, you should adopt a diet with right combination of foods that will help to keep your blood sugar level in your target range and avoid big swings that can cause diabetes symptoms.

To follow a healthy diet, you must first understand how different types of food can affect you. Bread, pasta, milk, sweets, fruits and starchy vegetables are rich in carbohydrate which easily breaks down in glucose in the blood faster than other type of foods, which can raise your blood sugar level. Proteins and fats do not directly impact blood sugar level but both should be consumed in adequate amount. To monitor your blood sugar level, you should eat a diet high in carbohydrates because they have the most impact on the blood sugar level.  You should eat meal and snacks on time, choose a diet that are high in nutrition and low in calories. Omega 3 fatty acid is also good for diabetes patients such as tuna, salmon, cod and halibut fish. Whole grain, nuts, lean proteins, healthy fruits and vegetables are always good for health.  Apart from this you should remember these things in your mind.

Proteins

You need to consume two or three servings of seafood each week, salmon fish added benefits to this by adding omega 3 fatty acid in your diet. For a vegetarian protein, you can add wide variety of beans in your routine. Nuts are also high in protein. So, you can consume them daily but in moderate quantity because they are also high in calories. Processed foods, meat and junk foods have high amount of sodium which can increase the risk of diabetes.

Grains 

Whenever you choose grains, make sure they are whole. Whole grain such as wild rice, whole grain breads, cereals contain fiber which is beneficial for digestive health. Whole grains also contain high amount of vitamins, minerals and proteins. White flour does not contain the same health benefits as whole grain. So, avoid the foods made with white flour such as white breads and pastries.

Fats 

Some type of fats help to protect your heart while some damage it. You should make a right choice among them. Choose the monounsaturated fats found in avocados, pecans and almonds which can help to lower bad cholesterol.  Saturated fats contain bad cholesterol so, limit butter, cheese, gravy and fried foods.

You can effectively manage type 2 diabetes. You should check your blood sugar level time to time. By following some simple tricks you can manage type 2 diabetes.

• You should eat after regular interval.
• Only eat until you are full.
• Include food rich in fiber and carbohydrate.  Eat plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables as they will manage your blood sugar level.
• Control your weight and keep your heart and body healthy.
• Change your lifestyle such as try half an hour aerobic activities daily to keep your heart healthy. Exercise helps to control blood glucose level too.

There are some medicines available which can control your blood sugar level. If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, doctor may recommend you to try metformin first and if it fails to bring your blood sugar level in control the doctor may recommend you to add glipizide or glimepiride. The best way is to adopt healthy lifestyle and healthy diet to prevent yourself from type 2 diabetes.