Approximately 26 million American adults and children currently have diabetes.
The worldwide the figure is estimated to be over 345 million. But here's the really scary part. Diabetes research shows that these numbers are expected to double within the next 20 years.
What Causes Diabetes Type 2?
Type 2 diabetes is the result of insulin resistance.
Your body makes enough insulin, but your cells aren't healthy enough to use it. This causes serious blood sugar problems that, over time, can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels and heart.
Based on analyzing diabetes research, it's evident what causes diabetes. Although a tendency towards the disease can be hereditary, studies show type 2 diabetes is the result of our "modern" lifestyle of poor diet, lack of exercise and overeating.
Even when it doesn’t kill you, diabetes greatly increases your risk of:
- strokes,
- blindness,
- heart attack,
- kidney failure,
- nerve damage,
- limb amputation.
As a matter of fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, impotence and limb amputations. And every 30 seconds, someone with diabetes has a diabetes-related amputation.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
The two most common red flag diabetes symptoms are:
- Unquenchable thirst. This is due to excess glucose circulating throughout the body and drawing water from tissues, which creates a feeling of dehydration.
- Increased urination. To quench the thirst caused by diabetes, there's a tendency to drink more liquids, which leads to more trips to the bathroom.
- Weight loss, gain or fluctuation. Because of loss of fluids, you may have an increased appetite. This can cause weight gain, but it may also lead to unexplained weight loss or even weight fluctuation.
- Blurred vision. High blood sugar pulls fluid from tissues, including your eyes. This can affect your ability to focus and, over time, lead to blindness.
- Dry and sometimes itchy skin. Because of high glucose blood levels and poor circulation, skin loses vital moisture. This can lead to dry legs, feet and elbows, which are then prone to cracking, peeling and infection.
- Frequent infections or slow-healing sores. Diabetes interferes with your immune system's ability to heal cuts and bruises and fight off infection. For women, bladder infections can be a particular problem.
- Red, swollen and tender gums. An increased risk of infections can affect gums and the bones that hold teeth in place. You may develop sores or pus pockets and your gums can pull away from teeth, causing them to become loose.
- Flu-like symptoms. Glucose is an important energy fuel. When your cells don't get enough, you can feel weak, drowsy, irritable and fatigued.
- Tingling or numbness in arms and legs. Excess sugar in the blood leads to damage of small blood vessels to nerves. This can cause tingling, loss of sensation or burning pain in hands, arms, legs or feet.
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Note: The information contained on this website is not intended to be prescriptive. Any attempt to diagnose or treat an illness should come under the direction of a physician who is familiar with nutritional therapy.
