Type 2 Diabetes – The Risks To Health
Over 2 million people in the UK alone are thought to have diabetes 2 and be completely unaware of it.
There are perhaps two main issues.
The first issue revolves around around human nature. Few of us, I believe, really want to know if we have either the potential for, or already have, a non-curable disease. Why have the added stress of knowing that we have an incurable disease? I think this may be paticularly true of males like myself. I avoid going to the doctor at all costs – I think it’s a pride thing. I don’t want to be dependant on anything or anyone.
That may be a little harsh, but I do think fear plays a key role in keeping some of us from the doctor.
Even if we do go to see the doctor, it’s often only if we feel really ill – and type 2 diabetes can take sometime for us to feel that way.
With stress level in the workplace at an all time high, it’s easy to blame the symptoms of type 2 diabetes to on this fact, and also, because it often appears in the over 40s, lon getting older.
However, it’s very important that as we age, we check in with our doctors and tell the doctor about these things.
To much glucose in the blood supply causes type 2 diabetes. It is due to a resisitance, or lack, of insulin which is the chemical that allows sugar to provide the energy we need to our cells. When our body is not converting these sugars to energy, we get tired and irratable, amongst other things that are not so obvious.
Untreated, diabetes can cause long term problems in three main areas. These are the kidneys, the eyes and the nervous system.
As far as renal damage is concerned, in the UK 30% of patients on dialysis have type 2 diabetes. This can be prevented by close monitoring of the blood sugar levels in the type 2 patient, as well as getting the levels of bad cholesterol down.
A yearly eye check is very important to check for damage to the optic nerve, and diabetic sufferes have a much higher incidence of cataracts and glaucoma.
Neuropathy, (nerve disease), affects about 60% of those with diabetes. This usually affects the feet and can lead to amputation. Neuropathy affects both type 1 and 2 sufferers and usually occurs after about ten years of high sugar levels. When these levels are reduced through treatment, the condition improves and often goes away completely.
So don’t let pride get in your way when it comes to the doctor. Try and get a yearly medical check up, and don’t put feelings of tiredness down to old age.
Toby has been living with diabetes for nearly two years now, and lives a near normal life and has a number of interests. Have a look at his latest website giving incredible deals on tentsforcampingreview.comat http://www.tents for campingreview.com
