Sep 16, 20232 min read

Type 2 Diabetes Is Often Associated With Obesity

Updated: Sep 17, 2023

✍🏻 Andreaa Scorupschi | Biomedical Science student at Cardiff Metropolitan University

What is Type 2 Diabetes? 🏥

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that causes the body to have an increased sugar (glucose) level in the blood.

Insulin is not distributed effectively to decrease the glucose level.

Also referred to as Diabetes Mellitus, the condition is usually diagnosed in elderly people and tends to be associated with obesity.

Why Is Insulin Important? ⚡️

Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas.

It is important because it is used to move glucose out of the bloodstream, to produce energy.

What Are The Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes? 🤕

There are many symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Some include:

Tiredness
Thirst
Slow-healing wounds
Frequent urination
Blurred vision

Another side effect can be having a gangrened limb. If the condition is aggravated, it can damage blood vessels which then can lead to a heart attack or even stroke.

How Can Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes Be Ameliorated? 🏋🏽‍♀️

Changes in diet and exercise can help manage symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that Type 2 Diabetes can be reversed by entering remission. However, for the ongoing condition, to ameliorate the symptoms, there should be a change in diet and exercise frequency and intensity.

The diet should be balanced and consist of unprocessed foods (whole foods), such as fruits, vegetables, beans (for carbohydrate intake), nuts, fish, and poultry. Having drinks with no added sugar, such as tea, coffee, and natural juices, is recommended.

Another study has shown that reducing weight will balance insulin sensitivity, making it distributed accordingly throughout the body. To reduce weight, you must be in a calorie deficit i.e. you must burn more calories through exercise, than the number you take in through food. Exercise can consist of walking at a faster pace, climbing stairs, swimming, team sports, or anything that makes your body move and raises your heart rate.

To monitor the changes diet and exercise make to the body, frequent blood tests can be done to ensure that glucose levels have decreased.