Health and Wellness Blog: September 2007

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Moderated by Valerie Bell, R.N., B.S.N., Family Nurse Practitioner Student

What is Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM)?

Blood sugar and insulin are needed for cells to produce energy. Your body turns the food you eat into glucose (sugar). Glucose has to get into the cells so it can be used for energy. Insulin helps the blood sugar get into cells. As blood sugar rises, the pancreas (pronounced like pank-re-us) tries to make enough insulin to manage the blood sugar levels.

What causes type 2 Diabetes?

When not enough insulin is made, or body can’t use the insulin properly, to meet the blood sugar demand, the pancreas can get worn out. Body tissues do not respond to the insulin and the blood sugars continue to rise. High blood sugars can damage the nerves in the eyes, heart, kidneys, and feet.

Risk factors for diabetes:

Being over weight
Having high blood pressure
Having high cholesterol
Being inactive- not exercising
Having someone in your family who has diabetes
Having gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant)

What are the symptoms?

Being very thirsty, having an excessive hunger (a larger appetite, more then usual) and excessive urination (passing your water) more than usual can be symptoms of diabetes. Other symptoms can be feeling very tried, having numbness in the feet (the feet tingle), getting infections that keep coming back, or having blurred vision.

What if I have diabetes?

If you have symptoms, see your health care provider. Tests to see if you have diabetes may include a blood test to check your blood sugar level and a urine test. If you are told that you have type 2 diabetes, it means that your pancreas is not making enough insulin to match the blood sugar needs of your cells.

What is the treatment?

Diet: eat right. Choose healthy foods, such as salads, fruits, and vegetables.

Eat fewer sweets. Eat smaller portions. Special lower carbohydrate diets may be ordered by your health care provider. A dietitian may help provide more information and help on healthy eating with type 2 diabetes.

Weight control: if you are over weight, lose some extra pounds

Losing weight can lower blood sugar.

Exercise: even 30 minutes a day 5 days a week can help you lose weight. You should check with your health care provider before starting any exercise program.

Use the stairs, walk more, park further away from where you need to go.

No smoking!

Smoking can have a negative effect your circulation

Your health care provider will discuss what is best with you

If healthy eating, weight loss, and exercise don’t help to control your blood sugars, you may need medication. Diabetic medicine can help to lower blood sugar or help with insulin and how it is made or used. These are usually pills that are ordered by your health care provider. You may have to check your blood sugars to see how you are doing. This is done with a blood glucose meter. Blood sugar numbers should be between 70- 110. Higher numbers mean poor control.

Are there complications?

Blood sugars that are not controlled can lead to blood sugars that are too low (hypoglycemia) or to high (hyperglycemia). If your blood sugar is lower than 70 you may feel shaky, hungry, tired, or dizzy. Did you miss a meal? Exercise too much? You will need a snack or hard candy to bring up the numbers. Orange juice or regular soda (1/2 cup or glass) will help. If your numbers are high, you might be thirsty, hungry, dizzy, and /or tired. Did you eat too much? Skip your medicine? Didn’t exercise? Drink lots of water and call your health care provider. You should call your health care provider if your numbers are too high or too low. You may need a change in your medicine.

Type 2 diabetes can have larger complications. If medicine, diet, weight control, and exercise are not helping your numbers, you may need some insulin( a medication that is injected) to help with the oral medicines.

Complications that can affect you if your blood sugars are too high and not controlled:

Diabetes can result in blindness.
Wear good fitting shoes. No bare feet! Sores on your feet can occur resulting in loss of a limb later on.
Decreased sensation or burning of the feet can be caused by nerve damage.
High blood pressure and diabetes can affect your heart and increase the risk for heart attacks
Blood is filtered by the kidneys; they can be overworked, leak, and stop working properly.
Gum and teeth problems can occur
Smoking: affects your circulation… Ban the butt!

The good news is that complications can be avoided by keeping your blood sugars at safe levels and by following your health care provider's recommendations for healthy eating, exercise and medication usage. People with diabetes can sucessfully manage their disease and live heatlhier and fuller lives by taking good care of themselves.

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