DIABETES TYPE 2 - A REFRESHER

I thought it worth a quick overview and refresher on type 2 diabetes, you may have just been diagnosed and wonder about it, or a friend or co-worker may have just told you that he/she has it.


Diabetes is a CHRONIC disease, which basically means long lasting. It has NO CURE, treatment is mostly to mitigate the side effects which most likely would lead to premature death if untreated. Diabetes is typified by a metabolism that is awry and also abnormally high blood sugar levels. It is caused by too low levels of insulin in the body. In Type 1 diabetes the pancreas stops producing insulin, in Type 2, the body becomes resistant to insulin and the pancreas simply cannot produce enough insulin.

Main symptoms are high blood sugar levels which cause increased urinating and blurred vision, dehydration caused by increased urinating leading to an abnormally high thirst, tiredeness or lethargy and an unexplained weight loss.


Diabetes Type 2 can go on to cause many ACUTE complications such as a doubled risk of heart and other cardio vascular problems, hyperglaecaemia, renal failure, optical (esp retina) damage, nerve damage.

CardioVascular problems affect the arteries and veins, and as this system is the most important 'bit' of our system that keeps us alive, any risk to it needs avoiding. Untreated Diabetes Type 2 is a very large contributor to CV problems. CV problems can lead to death. It is vital to keep blood pressure down ( I am advised 130/70 is my target, scarily I did get to 200/100 when my diabetes first struck), keep cholesterol levels down ( I am advised to get mine down below 4, it was well over 7 when diagnosed, had previously been as high as 11), and even more importantly, do not smoke. (I Don't, so didn't need to give up).

Hyperglaecaemia or a HPYER (not to be confused with HYPO which is a predominantly Type 1 issue), is also known in America as HONK (hyperosmotic non-ketotic acidosis (HONK)), typically requires the blood sugar to be over 33mmol/l (mine was at 27 when I was diagnosed). As I understand it you get into a cycle of increased urination which causes increased dehydration and (strangeley) increased urination ..... Leads to Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, Thrombosis, Motor Impairment, Focal Seizure, can lead to death.

Renal failure or Chronic Kidney Disease caused by untreated Diabetes Type 2 causes a loss of kidney function (Dialysis for the rest of your life) and development of cardiovascular disease which we have already seen can lead to death. It is important to reduce alcohol levels (if you drink a lot), and also not to drink too much water (which can bring its own complications)

Retinal damage ( AKA Diabetic Retinopathy) is caused by the growth of poor quality blood vessels in the eye and can lead to blindness.

Nerve damage (AKA Diabetic neuropathy) can lead to severe complications starting at limb extremities. Healing time can be poor, and simple cuts or small wounds may be become infected, leading to gangrene and amputation. Loss of sensation or tingling (pins and needles) can be an early symptom.


I AM NOT A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, so if you suspect that you are diabetic, or have any of these symptoms, then for goodness sake, go and see a doctor and get proper treatment.


My boss when I told him that I had diabetes, said "oh thats easy, just ease up on the sugar" I think that was an "Ignorant and foolish comment from someone who should think before commenting" (That is the polite publishable comment, at the time I just thought 'stupid p**t'.

At the moment, it cannot be cured, you cannot just get a Pancreas transplant, because it is often not that you are not producing insulin, but rather have become resistive to it. The Pancreas might be the only bit that doesn't need changing. I did read an article ( I forget where) that suggested that the problem may be in part of the small intestine which may be producing an unknown hormone that counters the effects of insulin. This is as a result, I believe, of gastric bypass ops in morbidly obese people, over 50% of which go on to no longer have diabetes. As far as I know there has been no clinical study that has lead to a definitive statement that leads to a cure for Type 2 Diabetes.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is that if you get it under control, and that has to be with the aid of a practising doctor, the complications lessen and the risks become manageable. You still need to be careful of course, see an opthalmist and podiatrist regularly for checkups (apparantly the feet and eyes are the furthest reaches of the CV system and the first to show symtoms). You need to get your meds right - too much diabetic medicine can cause a HYPO (two little glucose) and coma, too little can cause a HYPER (see above).

When you are diagnosed you may be put on STATINS and ASPIRIN straight away, Statins will help reduce cholesterol and low dose (typ 75mg) of Aspirin to reduce the risk of developing blood clots. Depending on other factors, you may be advised on diet and exercise, and you may be given medication, such as METFORMIN to control your diabetes.

YOU CAN LIVE WITH DIABETES, IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE. (Did you know that being born is the only actually guaranteed death sentence?). You must take control of it and not let it control you.

I have been interviewed at Dipex and you can see my thoughts in full there. (LINKed on this page). Your doctor must be your first point of call, but I am happy to discuss further with you, or your loved ones, co-workers etc if you want, just contact me. Hopefully you know a bit more about diabetes, and hopefully you will also have searched online for more info on diabetes. For me the biggest gripe is that most people still think of it as a fat persons disease. True fat people get it, but i'm not fat and I got it. There is more to diabetes than just overeating! There can be so much more to life if you don't give in to diabetes.