Type 2 Diabetes – The Destiny of the Occupied Man of the 21st Century?

Type 2 diabetes is a disease of the modern way of life. Nowadays, our pace of life is very fast and stressful. It consists of delays, tasks, often nights without sleep or too little sleep and a lot of coffee.

This may be due to the thickening of the colors, but it explains the main reasons for the rapid increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. This is why the endocrinologist Ieva Tonne-Zariņa explains the main factors diabetes risk and the importance of early detection of diabetes.

Diabetes is based on reduced sensitivity to insulin

Diabetes mellitus is based on insulin resistance, i.e. Hypersensitivity to insulin caused by a number of factors, but the most important are obesity in general and high levels of free fatty acids in the liver or steatosis of the liver. The main function of insulin is to pbad the blood sugar to the cells for use as a source of energy.

Insulin resistance requires twice and sometimes three times more insulin to ensure this function. A healthy pancreas can compensate for this increase in need over time, but when its capacity begins to decline, insulin levels are no longer sufficient and blood glucose levels rise accordingly. High levels of insulin in the blood also have a negative effect on the metabolism. For example, they prevent the accumulation of accumulated reserves.

The main risk factors for diabetes are:
• unhealthy diet,
• sedentary lifestyle,
Overweight and obesity
Depression and / or prolonged stress
• high blood pressure,
• Increased low density cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.

The risk also increases significantly after age 45 and when type 2 diabetes is related to the first degree. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes or a birth weight greater than 4,500 g are also at high risk.

Slightly elevated blood glucose levels can lead to chronic fatigue and increased susceptibility to respiratory and other infections. If your blood glucose is above 10 mmol / L, you may feel thirsty and urinate more often, but it can also progressively develop into type 2 diabetes, so more people notice it.

The first step is a visit to the family doctor

If you think your blood glucose is high, consult a doctor and have your blood glucose checked. If this changes, the general practitioner will perform further tests and, depending on the results, may start the initial treatment and then refer the person to an endocrinologist. In the absence of these symptoms but with risk factors for diabetes mellitus and / or over 45 years of age, fasting blood glucose should be measured annually, even if it was previously normal.

A healthy diet and exercise that can lead to excess weight are essential to minimize the risk of developing diabetes. The diet should reduce the proportion of simple or "fast" carbohydrates that rapidly increase blood sugar, such as sugary drinks, sweet yogurts, white flour products, white rice and mashed potatoes, as well as large quantities of candy and fruit.

In addition, the amount of vegetables in the diet should be at least half of the serving size. Of course, it is also desirable to reduce the amount of simple fat in the diet without using cream or butter and opt for high quality vegetable oils.

We must talk about diabetes

It is important to talk about diabetes tirelessly because, especially if it is not treated, it raises a big snowball from the mountain with serious complications. In particular, diabetes greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. There is an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, which at first glance seems a bit abstract but which, once experienced, has irreversible consequences.

During the disease, moderately elevated and persistent sugar levels contribute to the development of chronic inflammation in each cell, which can result in both increased development of atherosclerosis in the blood vessels and complications specific to diabetes. For example, peripheral polyneuropathy and retinopathy, which can result in a significant restriction of activity if the patient loses sight or even needs an amputee limb.