How to prevent yourself from falling prey to Type 2 Diabetes?

Diabetes is a lifetime metabolic disorder. It is one such disease that bothers you throughout life. However, the good news is that the progression of Type 2 Diabetes can be slowed down or reversed by leading a healthy lifestyle and by consuming a well-balanced nutritious diet.

If your diabetologist has spotted the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), usually, he will first prescribe you medicines such as Metformin to prevent the disease in the initial stages. You will also be provided with some much-needed advice to make necessary modifications to your lifestyle and food habits.

In the case of T2D, the good old saying, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ holds true. As soon as the symptoms of T2D start to surface, or if you have already developed prediabetes, talk to your doctor, and alter your lifestyle and food habits to cut the disease while it is still in the budding state.

Before we look into how to prevent T2D, let us first look into what it actually is, and the causes behind it.

So, what is Type2 Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, also known as Type 2 Diabetes develops when the body produces an insufficient amount of insulin or when the body fails to respond to the insulin produced. The body needs insulin for glucose to enter the cells for their functioning. Without insulin or with very less amount of insulin, the glucose will not be able to enter the cells. As a result, the glucose stays in the blood resulting in the spike in the blood sugar levels.

Why doesn’t body produce sufficient amount of insulin?

The immune system mysteriously thinks its own pancreatic cells as foreign bodies, fights them and destroys them. But why the body mistakes its own cells as foreign invaders are still unknown and the exact reason to know the same is still under research.

Causes:

While genetics play a major role in developing Type 2 Diabetes, the other causes for it cannot be ignored, as these also play an equal role. The other causes include:

• Sedentary lifestyle
• Unhealthy eating
• Obesity

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms:

As soon as a person develops Type 2 Diabetes, the symptoms surface. Though symptoms vary from person to person, they are more or less common. Few common symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Excessive hunger
• Rapid weight loss despite eating well
• Increase in thirst

Preventive Measures:

Workout, workout and more workout: If you are someone who is diagnosed with symptoms of T2D as a result of inactive lifestyle, then it is high time you got out of your seat.

Though there is no such concept of spot reduction in weight loss process, talk to your gym trainer and target the belly fat because in most T2D cases with obesity, belly fat is the major reason.

While exercise helps you lose some weight, it will help your body to develop sensitivity to insulin.

Let your body breathe:

Do not always be confined to indoors, be it at your workplace or at your home. Step out, let your body soak in the sun, breathe some fresh air, and get some energy. This makes your body feel fresh and boosts your energy levels. This, in turn, will help you stay active.

Unhealthy lifestyle:

It is time to bid bye-bye to your late night work and parties. Set up a bedtime routine. Sleep early and wake up early to keep your biological system active and healthy.

Unhealthy food habits:

If you have spotted the signs of T2D as a result of unhealthy eating, that means, you have spent quite a lot of years enjoying unhealthy food. It is time to make healthy food choices.

The key lies in eating smart. For instance, if you crave for sweets, grab a fruit, or replace the white sugar with jaggery. You can also choose to replace your saturated fats with unsaturated fats. Put on your thinking cap and make better choices.

Treatment:

Medication coupled with a healthy lifestyle and following the correct diet will enhance the reversible process. Diabetes is a disease that needs lifetime medication. By regularly taking your medicines prescribed by your doctor can prevent worsening the disease. So, do not skip the medicines which your doctor prescribed. Take them without fail. You can order medicines online to prevent skipping medicines. However, medication alone cannot keep Type 2 Diabetes at bay. So, sit less – move more – eat healthily- and stay healthy!!