Learn more about how type 2 diabetes occurs, how to prevent it and read the symptoms
Diabetes is a chronic condition where your blood sugar levels remain persistently high. It can lead to serious complications if left undetected and untreated. Of the several types of diabetes that afflict Singaporeans, Type 2 Diabetes is the most common. The good news is that it is also controllable and preventable.
Diabetes occurs when your body is either producing too little insulin or unable to respond well to the insulin produced. Because insulin is an important hormone that converts the sugar from your bloodstream to energy, your body needs sufficient amounts of it to function properly.
Type 2 Diabetes occurs more frequently in people over the age of 40, especially those who are overweight and do not exercise. Those with high blood pressure, abnormal blood cholesterol levels, or a family history of diabetes are also at risk.
Common symptoms are:
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia) and low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia). Both situations can cause a person with diabetes to become very sick very quickly and even go into a coma.
The long-term complications of diabetes include:
If you are 40 years and above, it is recommended that you go for screening once every 3 years. As with most illnesses, early detection is critical in successfully managing its condition. Ask your family doctor for a fasting venous blood sugar test which will reveal whether you have diabetes or if you are pre-diabetic (which is when you have slightly higher-than-normal sugar level in your blood). The test must be taken after an 8-hour fast, during which you cannot consume anything except water.
While Type 2 Diabetes can be managed in the long-term through medication, a better way to prevent the illness is to make some simple lifestyle adjustments today. You can start by:
Observing a healthy lifestyle will help you better control your blood sugar and maintain a healthy weight, and as a result, reduce or delay your risk of developing diabetes.