About Type 2 Diabetes Essay Example for Free

About Type 2 Diabetes EssayAround 2.6 jillion people in the UK confound been diagnosed with diabetes. About nine in 10 of these people have typewrite 2 diabetes. It usually affects people over the ripen of 40, save can stupefy at any age. People of African-Caribbean or South Asian origin ar more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. It usually affects them earlier in life, from about the age of 25. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common, particularly in children. Type 2 diabetes develops when your automobile trunk cant drive enough insulin or if your trunk doesnt respond to insulin as it should. Insulin regulates the level of glucose in your kind. Glucose is a simple form of lollipop found in foods and sugary soak ups. Its absorbed by your body as a natural part of digestion and is carried around your body in your blood. When glucose reaches your body tissues, much(prenominal) as muscle cells, its absorbed and converted into energy. Insulin is secreted into your blo od by your pancreas, which is a gland located behind your stomach.If your cells dont respond properly to insulin, it can own glucose to build up in your blood. This is called insulin resistance. If this happens, your pancreas necessitates to produce more and more insulin to overcome the resistance and control your blood glucose levels. Types of diabetes There are two main(prenominal) types of diabetes type 1 and type 2. There are about two million people in the UK who have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the common form, modify nine out of every 10 people with diabetes. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes Many people with type 2 diabetes have no obvious symptoms. Its a great deal discovered during a routine medical check-up with your GP.If you do have symptoms of type 2 diabetes, you may pass more pee than usualSee more My Writing Process Essaybe constantly thirstyhave unexplained weight lossbe extremely tiredhave hazy visionhave itchy skin around your genitals or get regular infections , such as thrushnotice that wounds such as cuts bring around slowlyIf you have any of these symptoms, see your GP. nitially, some people find they dont have any symptoms. So if you think you may be at risk of type 2 diabetes, speak to your GP about having a screening blood establish.Complications of type 2 diabetes If type 2 diabetes isnt diagnosed or controlled properly, you can develop blood glucose levels that are either too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia). Hyperglycaemia If type 2 diabetes is peaked(predicate) controlled or you get an infection, glucose can build up in your blood and rise to high levels. This can cause you tobe thirstypass urine excessivelyhave blurred visionfeel tiredVery rarely, if you become dehydrated and your blood glucose rises to very high levels, you can develop a condition called hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state. This can cause you to become drowsy and potentially unconscious. Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state is a medical emergency and needs to be treated in hospital. In the prospicient-term, uncontrolled high blood glucose levels can increase your risk ofkidney failureblindnessnerve damageheart diseasestrokeHypoglycaemiaSometimes, if your medication is too strong or you miss a meal, your blood glucose levels can become too low (hypoglycaemia). This only happens if youre taking certain medicines such as gliclazide (or others of the same type), repaglinide or insulin (of any type). If your blood glucose is low, you may go pale, feel sweaty and become confused. If you develop hypoglycaemia, its important to eat or drink something containing glucose, for example fruit juice or some sweets.Causes of type 2 diabetesThere are several risk factors that make you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, including if youare overweight or obese in particular, if youre an apple shape with lots of fat around your abdomen (tummy)have a close family member with the conditionare of African-Caribbean or South-Asian originare over 40 your risk increases with agehave high blood pressure or have had a heart attack or strokedont exercise regularlyhave severe psychical health problemsare a woman and have polycystic ovary syndrome and are overweightare a woman and have had diabetes that developed during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) If you have a condition such as impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia, this means the level of glucose in your blood is naturally higher than conventionalism and youre more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.Diagnosis of type 2 diabetesYour GP lead ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask about your medical history. You may need to have some of the hobby tests.Urine test. You will need to hold back a sample to be tested for glucose. Fasting blood glucose test. You will have a sample of blood interpreted from your arm to test for glucose. You will need to fast overnight before having this test. You may have this with a glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) test. HbA1C is a protein that is produced when you have high blood glucose levels over a long period of time. Glucose tolerance test. This may be needed if your fasting blood glucose test is borderline. It measures how your blood glucose level changes over time after you have a sugary drink. You will need to fast overnight before having this test.Treatment of type 2 diabetesThere isnt a cure for type 2 diabetes but it can be controlled. Some people can control their condition with life style changes alone. Others need to take medicines or use insulin scudions. Self-help By making the following lifestyle changes, you can help control your blood glucose levels. Eat a healthy balanced diet with regular meals, three times a day. take on carbohydrates, such as pasta or potatoes in each meal.Aim to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise over a workweek in bouts of 10 minutes or more. This will help you to stay a healthy weight and control your blood glucose levels. O nly drink alcohol in moderation and stick within the recommended limits. If you smoke, give up. Smoking is unhealthy for everyone, but its especially important to stop if you have diabetes because you already have an change magnitude risk of developing circulatory problems and cardiovasculardisease.Oral medicinesIf lifestyle changes alone dont keep your blood glucose levels under control, you may be visit medicines. Some examples are listed below. Metformin works by reducing the amount of glucose that gets released into your bloodstream from your liver. It also improves the way glucose is used by your muscles. Gliclazide, glipizide, glimepiride and tolbutamide help your pancreas to produce more insulin. Repaglinide and nateglinide also help your pancreas to produce more insulin, but work more quickly and last for a shorter time. Acarbose lowers your blood glucose by slowing downhearted the rate at which some carbohydrates are absorbed by your body. Pioglitazone reduces your body s resistance to insulin.Sitagliptin, saxagliptin and vildagliptin help your body to produce more insulin at mealtimes. These medicines are usually taken between one and three times a day.InjectionsYou may be prescribed other medicines such as exenatide or liraglutide. These medicines are given by injection and work by helping your body to make more insulin when its needed. They can also reduce your appetite and help you lose weight. If lifestyle changes and medicines cant keep your blood glucose levels under control, you may need to have insulin injections as well as, or instead of, tablets. You will usually inject yourself with insulin once or twice a day, using either a small needle or a pen-type syringe with replaceable cartridges. There are several different types of insulin that work at different rates and for different lengths of time.Ask your GP for advice on which type is best for you. If you have insulin injections, you will need to monitor your blood glucose levels with a home test kit. This involves taking a pinprick of blood from your finger and putting a drop on a examen strip. A meter will read the result automatically. Your GP or diabetes specialist nurse will show you how to monitor your blood glucose levels and tell you how oft you need to check it. Monitoring your blood glucose level You may also need to have your levels of HbA1C tested at least twice a year. The test is done by taking blood from a vein in your arm or sometimes a drop of blood from a fingerprick. Its used to see how well youre controlling your blood sugarlevels.