Type 2 diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body absorbs glucose and produces insulin. People with the diseases are insulin-resistant. i.e. their body cannot absorb glucose into the blood properly to produce insulin which is needed to move blood sugar cells throughout the body. Type 2 diabetes is mostly diagnosed among middle-aged and older people. In rare cases, such as childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes is also diagnosed in children.
How Type 2 Diabetes Is Diagnosed
It is usually diagnosed with the glycated hemoglobin test. It indicates the blood sugar level for about three months. The results then determine what the patient’s condition is:
Below 5.7% is considered normal.
5.7% to 6.4% is considered as prediabetic.
6.5% or higher on separate tests is diagnosed as diabetic.
Medication Alternatives
Researchers have developed drugs (injections inclusive) that can serve as alternatives to insulin for diabetes management. Some of them are:
- Metformin: Metformin serves as a good medication substitute for insulin, seeing as there is evidence of its mortality rate reduction. However, it shouldn’t be used by people who have severe kidney and liver problems.
- Rosiglitazone: This serves as another alternative that improves blood sugar levels, although it cannot be said to help long-term issues. It lowers the amount of sugar released by the liver, and increases the fat cells sensitivity to insulin’s effects.
- Exenatide: Like other GLP-1 drugs, it works for people with type 2 diabetes by instructing the pancreas to produce more insulin. It also helps in the limitation of glucagon (an hormon that stimulates the release of stored sugar) production in the body. While this can be effective, there are usually side effects which include nausea, headaches, and lightheadedness, which normally go away after the first month of treatment.
- Liraglutide: This works best when taken with Metformin. It also has some side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. Note: it’s not suitable for use by pregnant women.
- Semaglutide: This is also a GLP-1 drug which helps in the production of insulin and the limitation of glucagon production.
- Bromocriptine mesylate: It raises the dopamine level which leads to the reduction of glucose produced by the liver.
- Dapagliflozin: This helps to boost the level of glucose which leaves the body in urine and also prevents the kidney’s reabsorbption of glucose.
While these medications may be very helpful, it would be best to have a discussion with your doctor is qualified to suggest the right option for you.
Prevention Of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes can pose serious problems to the heart; it can cause health problems such as stroke, eye defects, and delayed healing of injuries. The good news is that people who are more likely to have Type 2 diabetes can take steps to prevent it as well.
You can lower your probability of getting type 2 diabetes by:
- Losing a considerable amount of your present weight, and keeping it that way.
- Getting at least 20 minutes of active exercise daily. This can help you use up excess sugar in your blood.
- Eating healthy foods most of the time. Eat smaller portions of food and food with fewer carbohydrates to reduce the number of calories you eat daily and the amount of sugar you take in.
- Adjusting your lifestyle to fit your new goal of living healthily.
Conclusion
Type 2 diabetes has immense health risks if not properly managed. For more information about type 2 diabetes, you can visit our page. You can also visit the nearest community clinic around you.
If you live in Charlotte, for example, you can type, on google, ‘Charlotte Community Care clinic‘ to locate the one nearest to you for regular checkups and lifestyle advice.
