You may already be aware of the staggering number of Americans who are obese. What you may not know is that obesity in adults in any country can lead to Type II Diabetes. This type of disease is know as adult onset diabetes and is often the result of a variety of factors which includes being overweight. This article’s focus is not, however, on the overweight condition of many adults except where it impacts those individuals who are diagnosed with Type II.

Genetics also play a pivotal role in whether or not an adult becomes a Type II diabetic. For example, a moderately overweight person (one who is 20 to 30 pounds above their categorized size) may be at as high risk as one who is morbidly obese (one who has a BMI [Body Mass Index] of 40 or more). This can be possible due to genetics where the first person has a history of diabetes on either the paternal or maternal side of the family versus the morbidly obese person who is at risk because of the extreme weight condition. In other words, Type II Diabetes does not attack the overweight person just because of added fat but looks at genetic factors also.

Understanding Type II Diabetes requires an explanation of the different types of diabetes. First, diabetes of any sort is a disease condition in which the body does not create ample insulin for the blood or, in some cases, no insulin at all. Diabetics babies who do not create any insulin at all from birth suffer from what is defined as Juvenile diabetes. This form of diabetes has nothing to do with weight but rather sources sometimes to genetics. Children who suffer from Juvenile diabetes are insulin dependent and often use an insulin pump rather than have to be subjected to multiple needle pokes daily. The insulin pump is typically surgically inserted into the skin and can be programmed to dispense necessary insulin doses to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.

Another form of diabetes is Type I Diabetes, also known as Insulin-Dependent. This diabetic individual is not born with diabetes but, for various reasons ranging from oral medication resistance to uncontrollable glucose (blood sugar) levels, has to take insulin shots to control their diabetes. Like Juvenile Diabetes, some Type I diabetics are surgically fitted with an insulin pump. Other Type I diabetics who have trouble with their vision may receive a prescription to dispense their insulin through a pen-type needle that measures their dosage with a simple click.

Type II Diabetes, which is neither diagnosed at birth nor exactly like Type I, is the most varied of the three because it can be highly influenced by external stimuli such as weight loss, exercise, various types of diabetic medications, or bariatric surgery. The way that Type II treats the body is that it addresses the fat within the body and creates far more sugar in the blood than the body can process. If this doesn’t sound like a big deal, it is. Type II diabetes has no symptoms but can cause significant damage to major organs in the body including, but not limited to the heart and eyes. Other risks for uncontrolled and untreated Type II diabetes include stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and blindness.

The good news is that Type II Diabetes can be cured. Growing popularity for bariatric surgery has been sending many Type II diabetics rushing off to get under the knife. While many results show that bariatic surgery does, in fact, cure all of the conditions of Type II, what this writer firmly believes is that bariatric surgery does not address the eating issues that some Type II diabetics face and thus is not a permanent nor healthy solution. Additionally, as with any surgical procedure, there are many risks associated with having bariatric surgery which include infection, the body’s rejection of the procedure, depression and bursting the procedure internally from continued overeating.

Understanding Type II Diabetes means knowing your risk level. If you are overweight, you should be tested by your physician. The test is simple and requires only a finger poke from which a small sample of blood can determine whether or not you are at risk or require treatment. As a rule, a fasting blood sugar level (this means not having eaten any food for approximately 8 hours) is ideal in the range of 60 to 70 mdl. A fasting blood sugar level of more than 120 mdl means you are most likely at risk for becoming a Type II or already experiencing the disease. If you are at a risk, your doctor may prescribe a diet and exercise regimen to help you lose weight and control your blood sugar levels. If you are diagnosed, a diet and exercise along with oral medication will be prescribed to help you gain control of your sugar levels.

Controlling Type II Diabetes involves monitoring your blood sugar levels as specified, maintaing a sensible diet and exercise regimen and moderating your stress levels. Believe it or not, stress can play such an important role in your daily life. Too much stress can cause your sugar to elevate as much as 100 points even though your diet and exercise and medications are all in order. Thus, it is very important to minimize stress.

It doesn’t take rocket science to understand Type II Diabetes. If you or someone you know is overweight and at risk, take the time to visit your doctor and have your blood checked. In the long run, Type II can not only be controlled but cured. Left untreated, Type II can advance to Type I. In a worse case scenario, untreated Type I can result in kidney failure, which is when the body no longer filters impurities and the blood must be cleansed regularly through a process known as dialysis. Without dialysis, the body will completely shut down and death results. Type II diabetes, however, is not a death sentence. Understanding Type II diabetes is an opportunity to effect a life change for the better.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 at 7:33 am.