By Jonny Lupsha, Current Events Writer
In type 2 diabetes, the body abuses insulin. It devastates the body, including the brain, and requires regular monitoring. A new study says contracting type 2 diabetes at a young age can increase the risk of dementia.
Although insulin production occurs normally in type 2 diabetes, the body does not respond well to it. Carrying extra weight also contributes to the fact that the body does not use insulin well. Photo by Africa Studio / Shutterstock
Type 2 diabetes is all too common in the United States, affecting over 30 million adults and an increasing number of children. Diabetes can cause major problems with organs, including kidney and heart disease, which can eventually lead to death. A new study suggests that early-onset type 2 diabetes later in life may be linked to a higher risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Type 2 diabetes is often misunderstood – it’s actually about the body making normal or near-normal amounts of insulin, but not using that insulin properly. In her video series Nutrition Made Clear, Professor Roberta H. Anding, director of sports nutrition and clinical nutritionist at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, explained other misunderstandings, including misdiagnosis.
For illness and health
According to Professor Anding, type 2 diabetes is diagnosed by a doctor by doing a test of your “fasting blood sugar” or blood sugar level after you have not eaten for a certain period of time. She said the threshold for type 2 diabetes is 126 milligrams per deciliter or an oral glucose tolerance test greater than 200. Often times, high blood sugar is genetic or dietary, but sometimes other things can raise blood sugar and even make it inappropriate Results lead to diagnoses of diabetes.
“Other factors that can increase blood sugar are often not taken into account. We don’t think about them, ”said Professor Anding. “Drugs can primarily raise blood sugar and interfere with a proper diagnosis. Niacin for high cholesterol; [and] Steroids, including steroids used to control a disease, can affect blood sugar. “
In addition, taking estrogen, testosterone, or the anti-seizure drug Dilantin can increase blood sugar levels. Medications are also not alone in increasing blood sugar levels.
“Illness will increase your blood sugar,” said Professor Anding. “A fever increases your blood sugar. What this means is food regardless, physical stress – not the emotional stress of a challenging job, but physical stress or an insult to the body – can raise blood sugar regardless of food. “
No sugar for me; I am cute enough
Many people are genetically predisposed to type 2 diabetes.
“Twin studies give us the best insight into the genetics of diabetes,” said Professor Anding. “If you are an identical twin, you share an identical gene pool. If one twin gets diabetes, the chances of the other twin getting diabetes are three out of four, so you’re at a significantly higher risk. We have now identified several genes, loci on genes, which suggest that there are some people at higher risk. “
There is no guaranteed cure for type 2 diabetes, but a famous study called the Diabetes Prevention Study offered some hope and good news.
“I think from the diabetes prevention program [clinical research] I think we can learn that I can control all comorbidities if I can control them [associated with diabetes]If I can control the high blood pressure and all the things that lead to a bad result, I would consider that a cure, ”said Professor Anding. “I’ve seen people whose blood sugar normalized, their lipids normalized, and their blood pressure normalized by losing weight and exercising and following some of the other dietary recommendations.
“Even in the medical world, you probably wouldn’t call that a cure. In the world of nutrition, I’ll tell you I would. “
Edited by Angela Shoemaker, The Great Courses Daily
