Early detection is essential for managing diabetes and preventing serious health complications. Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to soar. This is due to the body not responding to insulin properly, and not producing enough. The symptoms can be at subtle at first. What should you be looking out for?
you should see your GP straight away if you have any symptoms of diabetes
Bupa recommends keeping an eye out for the following five symptoms:
- Go to the toilet (to wee) more often than usual
- Feel constantly thirsty
- Have changes in your weight for no obvious reason
- Feel extremely tired
- Have blurred vision
Regularly get genito-urinary infections, such as thrush, or urinary tract infections, such as cystitis.
Type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed following blood urine tests for something else. “However, you should see your GP straight away if you have any symptoms of diabetes,” said the NHS.
Most people diagnosed with diabetes can manage their condition by sticking to a healthy balanced diet and keeping active.
Diabetes UK recommends following a diet that includes the main food groups:
Fruit and veg
Starchy foods, like bread, pasta and rice
Protein foods, like beans, pulses, nuts, eggs, meat and fish
Dairy and alternatives
Oils and spreads
Most people diagnosed with diabetes can manage their condition by sticking to a healthy balanced diet and keeping active.
Diabetes UK recommends following a diet that includes the main food groups:
- Fruit and veg
- Starchy foods, like bread, pasta and rice
- Protein foods, like beans, pulses, nuts, eggs, meat and fish
- Dairy and alternatives
- Oils and spreads
Sensible portion sizes and regular exercise must be factored in, added the charity. Maintaining a healthy weight helps protect blood pressure and cholesterol.
In certain cases, medication may be required to manage the body’s blood sugar levels. Metformin is usually the first medication prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes.
The drug lowers blood sugar levels and boosts the body’s ability to handle insulin.
According to Diabetes UK, there are a number of risk factors that might also be a sign of 2 diabetes, these include:
– If you’re white and over 40 or over 25 if you’re African-Caribbean, Black African, or South Asian.
– If you have a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes.
– If you have South Asian descent and African-Caribbean or Black African descent
– If you smoke
Certain mental health conditions are also a risk factor. These include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
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