Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects multiple organs in the body when your body can no longer produce insulin or use it effectively.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose (sugar) levels.

With type 2 diabetes, your body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. As a result, sugar accumulates in your blood and can cause several consequences for other organs in the body such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, skin, etc. 1

Diabetes is a serious disease that requires continuous care. Indeed, people with diabetes are at very high risk of illness and health complications such as:

1. Cardiovascular complications:

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Strokes

2. Kidney complications (diabetic nephropathy):

• Kidney failure

• Dialysis

3. Eye complications (diabetic retinopathy):

• Blindness

• Glaucoma

• Cataracts

4. Nerve complications (diabetic neuropathy):

• Pain and numbness

• Loss of sensation, especially in the feet

• Digestive problems and other bodily functions

5. Skin complications:

• Bacterial and fungal infections

• Wounds and ulcers, especially on the feet2

You can change several of your lifestyle habits to continue living healthily despite your diabetes. These changes aim to keep your blood sugar (glycemia) within the target range set by you and your doctor.

Start by:

• Maintaining a healthy weight.

• Incorporating physical exercise into your daily routine.

• Adopting a healthy diet.

• Regularly measuring your blood sugar using a glucometer. 

• Taking antidiabetic medications prescribed by your healthcare professional.

• Treating other illnesses, if present, that increase the risk of the aforementioned complications, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.