Coming to terms with type II diabetes
Conditions > Coming to terms with type II diabetes
More and more people, particularly Americans, are finding themselves prey to Type II diabetes. Type I, more commonly diagnosed in childhood, is generally more severe but is becoming the less dominate of the types. Adult-onset diabetes tends to come in families although more people are “wearing out” their pancreas, meaning they find they have diabetes without a family medical history to suggest they may get the disease. Older people are particularly susceptible to discovering they have Type II diabetes, and with this disease early knowledge and quick control is the key.
The constant need to urinate is one of the most noticeable signs that one may be developing diabetes. People will need to go to the bathroom often despite how much they drink, but constant thirst is also a sign as the body is trying to re-hydrate itself from the toll excess sugar is taking on the body. Other noticeable symptoms include headaches and nausea.
If an elderly person discovers he or she has Type II diabetes, it is important to take control of the disease quickly. Doctors often suggest seeing a nutritionist, and as painful as changing one’s nutrition later in life may be, it is vital to consider doing so. For many Type II diabetics, particularly those whose condition is discovered early, they only need to make slight changes in their overall lifestyle.
First, a sedentary life is not acceptable for a diabetic. The patient should get some exercise. He or she may want to start small with a walk around the block or simply movement around the house. It is important, however, to move daily and not be content to sit on the couch and do nothing.
Nutritional changes also should be made immediately. Many nutritionists tell today’s diabetics that eating anything in moderation is acceptable. Despite the desirability of this advice, diabetics should not allow it to permit them not to take their disease seriously. Cutting out high-sugar, low-nutrition foods like cakes, ice cream, and soft drinks is the best way to begin. Foods high in carbs but with some nutritional value should be reduced. These foods include complex carbohydrates like rice and pasta. They can be substituted with high-protein foods or low-carb specialty foods.
The third step on the way to healthier living with Type II diabetes is learning to check one’s blood sugar and take insulin on a regular basis. Doctors will give out information on where a patient should strive to keep his or her blood sugar and how to test it. Learning to do these things now will pay off in the end. Insulin can often go a long way in controlling Type II diabetes, and the patient would do well to cooperate with this form of treatment. These three changes may seem drastic at diagnosis, but they can help add years to the life of an elderly diabetic patient.