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About Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes used to be called ‘maturity onset diabetes’, or ‘non-insulin dependant diabetes (NIDDM)’, or ‘diabetes of adulthood’. Some people have also known it as 'sugar diabetes'. These names for Type 2 diabetes have now been abandoned mainly because Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age (though it most often occurs in later adulthood) and because many people with Type 2 diabetes are on insulin.
How many people have Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of diabetes. In New Zealand about 142,000 people have Type 2 diabetes. The numbers of people developing Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing. In some groups of people up to 12% of them will have Type 2 diabetes once they are aged over 40 years.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
In Type 2 diabetes, either the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the cells in the body don’t recognise the insulin that is present. The end result is the same: high levels of glucose in your blood. (link to action of insulin in what is diabetes doc)
About a third of people with Type 2 diabetes also have high blood pressure (hypertension) and / or disordered levels of fats (cholesterol) in their blood (the medical name for this is dyslipidaemia). This combination of diabetes with hypertension and dyslipidaemia is sometimes called 'the metabolic syndrome' or syndrome X.
When does Type 2 diabetes normally occur?
Type 2 diabetes most often occurs in adulthood usually after the ages of 30 – 40 years. However, increasing numbers of teenagers and children are developing Type 2 diabetes.
Who is most likely to develop Type 2 diabetes?
Some groups of people are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes:
- Maori, Polynesians or Asians
- People who are overweight
- People who have a blood relative with Type 2 diabetes
- Women who have had a baby weighing more than 4 kg (9 pounds)
- People who don’t exercise enough
Does Type 2 diabetes run in families?
If you have a blood relative with Type 2 diabetes you are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes yourself. However Type 2 diabetes sometimes occurs in people who have no one in their family with the condition.
Is Type 2 diabetes curable?
In people with Type 2 diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood. But with good management, your blood glucose levels may go down to normal again. But this does not mean you are cured. Instead, a blood glucose level in your target range shows that your treatment plan is working and that you are taking care of your diabetes.
How do I start managing my Type 2 diabetes?
Making changes to your lifestyle is a very important first step, and one that you have a great deal of control over. The goal of managing your daily life is to lower your blood glucose and improve your body’s use of insulin. This is achieved through:
- A healthy diet
- Exercise
- Weight loss
Are lifestyle changes enough?
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition. This means that over time you will gradually produce less and less insulin. Although you may be able to manage your blood glucose levels in the healthy range by eating healthy food and having regular exercise for a number of years, most people come to need tablets or insulin as well as their food an exercise plan.
How do most people feel about having Type 2 diabetes?
When they are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, most people feel very anxious, sad and fearful. That is perfectly natural.
Mixed in with these feelings may also be a sense of relief. Why? Well, there is a feeling of certainty that comes with finding out just what it is that has been wrong (when you have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes you may have been unwell and tired for some time but haven’t known what the problem was). It can be a relief to get a diagnosis but also a shock to learn it is diabetes.
Your own personal experience plays an important part in how you will react to, and cope with, your diabetes. Many of you will know someone who had, or has, diabetes. How they coped (or not) will influence how you feel. People who successfully coped with diabetes will be positive role models for you. Those who had a bad diabetes experience, on the other hand, may make you feel more fearful.
But, it’s important to remember that everyone has their own personal choices to make about the way they choose to live with their diabetes. The other thing to remember is that with increasing knowledge about diabetes, and ever more sophisticated tools to deal with diabetes, there never has been as ‘good’ a time to have diabetes as now (although it may not seem like it at the moment!). At this point in time, you’ve never had a better opportunity to live a long, happy and healthy life.
Become a role model
Although most people are shaken by a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes many people come to see the diagnosis in a more positive light, as a wakeup call. It is often an incentive to become more active, to eat healthier food and to manage your body weight.
It can also be an opportunity for you to make a positive difference to those around you, be they your friends or your immediate and larger family. You taking a positive and active approach to living with your diabetes can sometimes act to improve the health and happiness of your entire family group.
You can make a very practical difference too. The skills you learn to manage your diabetes may be the very skills your children or other family members need to prevent them developing Type 2 diabetes at all.
What are some of the practical things I can do to cope?
Things you can do for yourself to help you cope with Type 2 diabetes include:
- Taking time out so you can have space within which to make the emotional and practical adjustments you need.
- Talking to others. Share your thoughts and feelings with your friends and family. Spend time with those who can support you and understand your feelings. Talk to other people with diabetes. Their insights will help you and it’s important for you to know that you are not alone.
- Take time to learn the skills you need to manage your diabetes. But remember you can't learn it all at once. Don't be too hard on yourself. Take it one step at a time.
- Seeing a dietitian to get the most up-to-date information and support for your food choices.
- Attending local diabetes groups or classes or visit a diabetes nurse educator.
- Making contact with your local diabetes organisation and seeing if they run support groups or have other resources.
- Having some counselling if you find living with diabetes especially hard.
- When you do make changes to your lifestyle don’t try doing it all at once. One manageable step at a time is best. And don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back when you achieve each step.
- Looking around in your community for groups or activities that may help you make changes, for example, activity groups, walking groups, dance classes etc.
- Don't expect miracles overnight. Your adjustment process will have its highs and its lows. It doesn't follow a set pattern. Be prepared for setbacks and bad patches. But remember that getting back on track is only a moment away.
