Adult Onset Diabetes – An Old Name For a Growing Problem
Adult onset diabetes is fast becoming a misnomer as more and more teenagers and children develop the disease. Adult onset diabetes is now known as type 2 diabetes and accounts for around 90% of all cases of diabetes in the world today. The reason this type of diabetes is accelerating at an alarming rate is almost certainly due to the level of obesity in young people today. Couple that with lack of exercise and we have a health crisis about to explode.
At the same time adults are developing this disease in greater numbers than before. This too is due to obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Although adult onset diabetes can be managed with medication, it is far better to avoid it in the first place.
Adult onset diabetes can cause severe complications. There is an increased risk for circulatory problems, such as blood vessel damage,heart attack, stroke, and nerve damage in the feet and legs. The risk for kidney disease and other organ damage is high and some studies indicate that it may also increase the risk for certain types of dementia.
What causes adult onset diabetes?
There are cells ins the pancreas of all mammals called “Islets of Langerhans”. The are responsible for the manufacture of insulin in the body. When adult onset diabetes develops,either the pancreas does not make sufficient insulin to keep blood glucose levels normal, or the body’s cells become resistant and do not properly use the insulin produced. Far cells are particularly resistant to insulin.
Symptoms of adult onset diabetes
The scary thing is that a large percentage of people who have adult onset diabetes don’t realize they have it. Diabetes can be completely asymptomatic, which means that symptoms simply don’t appear for some reason. Other people do not recognize the symptoms when they do appear, sometimes because they are not severe enough to disrupt their lives or they mistake the symptoms for something else. Such symptoms include excessive thirst, unusual weight loss despite increased hunger and eating and frequent urination, due to increased drinking. Other symptoms include numbness in the hands and feet and vision disturbance.
So if you are exhibiting any of the above symptoms, how do you know if they are actually symptoms of adult diabetes?
The best way is to do a blood test called the fasting blood glucose level test. Diabetes is diagnosed if this test shows blood glucose is higher than 126 mg/dL on two different tests. When blood glucose levels are between 100 and 126 mg/dL, this can indicate a condition called pre diabetes which is considered a warning for possible adult onset diabetes
Adult onset diabetes is best treated by attention to diet. Try and eats meals around the same time every day. Some examples of good foods to eat are leafy green vegetables, beans, barley, dairy products, oatmeal, and certain fruits are all recommended foods for a diabetic diet. Keep sugars and simple carbohydrates to a minimum.
