1- Cause of the disease
There is no singular cause of type 2 diabetes. However, there are certain factors that are known to contribute to the development of the disease.
One of these factors is genetics. It has been proven that people with a family history of diabetes have a higher risk of developing the disease than someone who doesn’t. Age is also an important factor. The older you are, the greater the risk of type 2 diabetes developing. (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Lifestyle is another important issue. People who are over 45 years of age and suffer from high blood pressure, or are overweight increase their chances of the disease establishing. This means that people over the age of 45 must be mindful of …show more content…
their weight to prevent the disease developing. (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Your country of origin can also play an important part in your chances of contracting the disease. If you originate from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background and are over 35, your chances of catching type 2 diabetes are higher. This is also the case if you are from a Pacific Island, Indian subcontinent or Chinese cultural descent.
If a woman has given birth to a child over 4.5 kg, had gestational diabetes when pregnant, or had a condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, she may also have type 2 diabetes. (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
2- Signs and symptoms
While type 2 diabetes is developing, many people have no symptoms at all, while other signs are dismissed as a part of ‘getting older’. By the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, disease has already set in, and cannot be changed. Symptoms include:
Being excessively thirsty (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Passing more urine (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Feeling tired and lethargic (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Always feeling hungry (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Having cuts that heal slowly (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Itching, skin infections (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Blurred vision (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Gradually putting on weight (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Mood swings (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Headaches (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Feeling dizzy (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Leg cramps (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
3- Numbers and/or types or people suffering the disease
‘Type 2 diabetes affects 85-90% of all people with diabetes. While it usually affects older adults, more and more younger people, even children, are getting type 2 diabetes. An estimated 280 Australians develop diabetes every day.’ (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
‘The 2005 Australian AusDiab Follow-up Study (Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study) showed that 1.7 million Australians have diabetes but that up to half of the cases of type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed. By 2031 it is estimated that 3.3 million Australians will have type 2 diabetes.’ (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
‘Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic disease. Nearly 1,000,000 Australians are currently diagnosed with diabetes. For every person diagnosed, it is estimated that there is another who is not yet diagnosed; a total of about 1.7 million people. The total number of Australians with diabetes and pre-diabetes is estimated at 3.2 million.’ (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) are intermediate conditions in the transition between normality and diabetes. People with IGT or IFG are at high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, although this is not inevitable. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013)
As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, people who are overweight and who have high blood pressure can also suffer from this disease, and make up a large percentage of people that have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
4- Prevention Strategies
‘In Australia, nearly two thirds of men and half of all women are overweight or obese.
This is a key factor in the alarming rise of type 2 diabetes. Yet up to 60 per cent of diabetes cases could be prevented, or at least delayed, by people maintaining a healthy weight. The main keys to long-term weight loss and reducing your waist measurement are healthy eating and regular physical activity. Type 2 diabetes often runs in families.’ (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
You can prolong the prevention of diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight. Many Australians suffer from type 2 diabetes because they are not healthy and as a result, their weight is affected. Regular physical activity is also another strategy people can use to prevent the disease. At least 30 minutes of physical activity a day I appropriate for all adults, especially those trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy one. (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Another factor that contributes to your overall health is making healthy food choices. This includes managing this that can greatly contribute to your overall health. Some of these things include managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels. (Diabetes Australia, …show more content…
2011)
Smoking is also a factor that commonly contributes to the onsets of many lifestyle diseases. Type 2 diabetes is one of these diseases. (Diabetes Australia, 2011)
Strategies can include being mindful of your health. Don’t think that it’s something that it out of your control. The key to maintaining a healthy weight is self-motivation.
Healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent type 2 diabetes. Even if you have diabetes in your family, diet and exercise can help you prevent the disease. If you 've already been diagnosed with diabetes, the same healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent potentially serious complications. And if you have prediabetes, lifestyle changes can slow or halt the progression from prediabetes to diabetes. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013)
Sometimes medication is an option as well. Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, others), an oral diabetes medication, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes — but healthy lifestyle choices remain essential. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013)
References
Anon., n.d. [Online].
Diabetes Australia, 2011. Type 2 Diabetes. [Online]
Available at: http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/Understanding-Diabetes/What-is-Diabetes/Type-2-Diabetes/#Cause of Type 2 Diabetes
[Accessed 15 October 2013].
Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013. Type 2 Diabetes. [Online]
Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=prevention
[Accessed 15 October 2013].
Type 2 Diabetes- Oral Response
Joshua Steel
Type 2 Diabetes.
What comes to mind when you hear this phrase? Do you think of unhealthy lifestyles? Or do you think of family members that suffer from this disease? Either way, it is clear that Type 2 Diabetes is slowly taking over. In the space of 25 years, the number of people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes has increased by over 250 million.
So what causes this disease? Well, there is no singular cause of Type 2 Diabetes. There are only factors that can contribute to the development of the disease. Some of these are lifestyle factors. People who suffer from high blood pressure or excessive weight gain have a high risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes.
Another thing to watch out for is your country of origin. People who are over 35 and are of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background have a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. This is also the case if you are from a Pacific Island, Indian subcontinent or Chinese cultural descent.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are usually dismissed as a part of ‘getting older’. By the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, disease has already set in, and cannot be changed. Symptoms include being excessively hungry and thirsty, feeling tired, mood swings and
headaches.
In terms of statistics, an Australian study showed that 1.7 million Australians have diabetes but that up to half of the cases of type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed. By 2031 it is estimated that 3.3 million Australians will have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes affects 85-90% of all people with diabetes. It is estimated that 280 people develop diabetes every day.
In Australia, nearly two thirds of men and half of all women are overweight or obese. This is a key factor in the alarming rise of type 2 diabetes. Yet up to 60 per cent of diabetes cases could be prevented, or at least delayed, by people maintaining a healthy weight. The main keys to long-term weight loss and reducing your waist measurement are healthy eating and regular physical activity. At least 30 minutes of physical activity a day is appropriate for all adults, especially those trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy one.
Smoking is also a factor that commonly contributes to the onsets of many lifestyle diseases. Type 2 diabetes is one of these.
I hope you have learned something about Type 2 Diabetes, and how to prevent it.