Tips For Boosting Your Longevity With Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body doesnt use insulin properly. Unlike type 1 diabetesan autoimmune diseasetype 2 diabetes develops due to a combination of unhealthy lifestyle habits, genetics, and obesity. According to the CDC, diabetes is the 7th most common cause of death in the United States. Your likelihood of dying from diabetes increases with poor lifestyle choices and improper diabetes management. While having diabetes does not necessarily mean that youll die at a younger age, there are many complications that can occur that increase your risk of premature death. Unproperly managing your diabetes increases your risk for these complications and therefore, death. So, to make sure that youre getting the most out of life, here are 10 tips to boost your longevity with type 2 diabetes.
Life Expectancy With Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the body has enough insulin, but cells dont use it properlyleading to a buildup of blood glucose. More than 90% of people with diabetes have type 2. Type 2 diabetes is more frequently diagnosed in adulthood than childhood.
According to some estimates, having type 2 diabetes can shorten your life by about 10 years. But, its hard to determine an exact number. How healthy you are with the condition depends greatly on how long youve had diabetes, how well you manage blood glucose levels over time, and whether you have , such as and . These conditions greatly increase the risk of dying in people with diabetes, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Why Take Care Of Your Diabetes
Taking care of yourself and your diabetes can help you feel good today and in the future. When your blood sugar is close to normal, you are likely to:
- have more energy
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Ask your health care team what type of diabetes you have.
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Learn where you can go for support.
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Learn how caring for your diabetes helps you feel good today and in the future.
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Your Alcohol Intake May Decrease
Some diabetics should avoid alcohol altogether. All diabetics should never binge drink and should try to stick to one or two drinks. Moderate drinking makesblood sugar rise, but excess drinking can actually tank your blood sugar down to dangerous levels. Alcohol can also affect your willpower and judgment, both of which are a key part of safely managing your diabetes.
Diabetes Cuts Years Off Life Span Of Americans
Study Shows Sharp Increase in Percentage of Adults With Diabetes
Dec. 1, 2010 — Diabetes cuts about 8.5 years off the life span of the average 50-year-old compared to a 50-year-old without diabetes, new research indicates.
The study also shows that older adults with diabetes have a lower life expectancy at every age compared to people who do not have the disease. For example, researchers say, the difference at age 60 is 5.4 years itâs one year by 90.
The findings come from a new report commissioned by the National Academy on an Aging Society and was supported by Sanofi-aventis U.S., a pharmaceutical company. It was based on data provided by the Health and Retirement Study, a survey of more than 20,000 Americans over age 50 done every two years by the University of Michigan.
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When To See A Doctor
Visit your GP as soon as possible if you experience the main symptoms of diabetes, which include:
- weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
- itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
- cuts or wounds that heal slowly
- blurred vision
Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days.
Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general.
What Is Dog Diabetes
A dog develops diabetes when his pancreas does not produce enough insulin on its own. It may also function poorly.
Insulin is necessary for taking in glucose and transporting it throughout the body. Its needed for energy.
The body failing to produce insulin can result in too much glucose in the bloodstream. This can cause your dog to become ill.
Dogs with diabetes are more likely to develop other health concerns as well. They have a greater risk of going blind and may develop urine infections and other problems more easily.
It is important to look out for the symptoms so you can get your dog checked for diabetes as soon as problems start occurring.
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What Is Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects blood sugar regulation. A persons immune system makes antibodies that destroy the insulin-producing islet beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then fails to make insulin. Without insulin, blood sugar increases and cannot be delivered to the muscles and brain where it is needed. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to a number of complications such as kidney, nerve, and eye damage, and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, cells do not receive the glucose necessary for energy and normal function.
Because type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, cures will likely involve replacing the damaged pancreas or promoting regeneration or functioning of the pancreas. Because people with type 1 diabetes can no longer produce their own insulin, they must inject doses of insulin. They must match the amount of insulin they inject with their diet. Keeping blood sugar in a normal, healthy range is the key to preventing long-term complications.
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Complications Which Might Be A Cause Of Worry For Diabetes:
The following complications in diabetes might be a factor why people should beware and treat diabetes in the most effective manner.
Kidney Disease:
As per the American Diabetes Association, 44 percent of the diabetes patients tend to suffer from serious kidney disorders.
Heart-Related Condition:
There are several heart-related diseases which might affect our body if we suffer from diabetes. The blood vessels and the nerves supplying blood might get damaged resulting in serious conditions including death.
Nerve Damage:
The problem of high glucose and pressure levels can lead to damage in the various nerves of the body, including those that control the heart, kidney, arms, legs, amongst other nerves. When this condition occurs, there are chances that death might take place due to diabetes.
Diabetes Ketoacidosis:
Sometimes, there are chances that the problem of high blood glucose level might lead to high levels of ketone cells being developed in the body. This leads to the problem of Diabetes Ketoacidosis which is often very dangerous and might even lead to death.
Other Serious Complications:
Several other complications might lead to serious damage to the nerves and vessels leading to the death of diabetic patients. Some of these complications include gum diseases, amputations of different body parts, as well as other deadly complications.
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How To Prevent Canine Diabetes
Preventing diabetes in dogs is not easy.
For many dogs, diabetes is in their genes, but spaying your female dog is one easy way to prevent insulin-resistant diabetes caused by diestrus or pregnancy.
Obesity is often linked with diabetes, but in canines, Dr. OKell says, its not proven to be a direct cause. That said, obesity is believed to contribute to insulin resistance , so preventing it may lead to more effective treatment.
Pancreatitis is known to be a risk factor for canine diabetes. Pancreatitis can be genetic but can also be a result of feeding fatty foods such as pork and other meat products.
Feed your dog a healthy, balanced dog food and restrict extras to fruits and vegetables.
Avoiding overfeeding and regular exercise are the keys to maintaining a lean body weight, Dr. OKell says. If you are not sure how much to feed your dog, your veterinarian can help you come up with a dietary plan to prevent obesity.
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The Importance Of Preventing Diabetes Progression And Heart Disease
Whatâs important to remember, in the absence of cardiovascular disease, is life expectancy is going to depend on the progression of diabetes, Rinker says. This means its important to eat well, exercise, and take medicine if recommended by your doctor.
Equally crucial, be sure to prevent or manage any additional conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or chronic inflammation. When a person is diagnosed with diabetes, their healthcare provider will require them to be examined for heart disease and take care to reduce their risk of developing it in the future. To that end, a diabetes diagnosis can be the first step to managing or reversing more life-threatening conditions, potentially leading to a longer life.
To someone who is depressed about the diagnosis of diabetes, Iâll say, This disease is going to make you do things you should be doing anyway. You should be eating well and exercising anyway. It might actually prolong their lives because theyll be doing things they wouldnât have done before the diagnosis, Dr. Munshi says.
For some people, these measures can have incredible benefits: A report published in September 2017 in the British Medical Journal suggested maintaining a healthy weight and lowering blood glucose levels may even help reverse type 2 diabetes.
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Life Expectancy In Cats With Diabetes
The life expectancy of cats with diabetes varies depending on the specifics of their situation. For a cat that is otherwise in good health, diabetes that is well-regulated may not shorten their life.
However, some cats are more difficult to regulate or have an interfering disease, so their prognosis may be different depending on the illness.
How Long Can A Dog Live After Being Diagnosed With Diabetes
Dogs can still have a full life with diabetes. They just need to be taken care of well and have regular check-ups to ensure their health.
Failing to care for your pet as instructed can result in a shorter lifespan for him or her. Many dogs go on to live for at least another two years after diagnosis, potentially more if theyre well-cared for and a younger age.
Older dogs may struggle to recover after a canine diabetes diagnosis.
The hurdle is to get past the first few months after your pet has been diagnosed. If left untreated for too long, the problems may already be far too exacerbated.
Your dog could be too sick for any treatments to help.
That is why it is so important to watch for symptoms and seek treatment immediately if you notice any changes in your dogs behavior.
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Will Diabetes Kill You How Long Can You Live With Diabetes
Unfortunately the life expectancy of people suffering from diabetes is in reality shorter than those who dont. People suffering from Type 1 Diabetes have a life expectancy that is shorter by approximately 20 years whereas those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes have, on average, a life expectancy of about 10 years shorter.
Can I Treat Diabetes Without Drugs
If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take daily insulin injections to keep your blood glucose in a normal range. Your body produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a vital hormone that helps your body convert food into energy. Without insulin, you would die. If you have type 2 diabetes, the answer to this question is much less clear. Many people can keep their blood glucose in a healthy range without medications if they lose weight and keep their weight down, are regularly physically active, and follow a meal plan that helps them keep portion sizes under control and helps them spread the amount of carbohydrate they eat at each meal throughout the day. Eventually, however, many people with type 2 diabetes find that despite their best efforts, weight control, exercise and diet aren’t enough to keep their blood glucose in a healthy range. This is not unusual. One theory is that some people’s insulin-producing cells just get tired out from having to produce more and more insulin because their cells are resistant to the effects of insulin. If your healthcare team tells you that you need to take oral diabetes medications or insulin injections to manage your blood glucose, it’s important that you follow their instructions. Keeping your blood glucose in a healthy range is key to preventing long-term complications, such as eye disease, kidney disease, heart attacks, and other problems that poorly controlled blood glucose can cause over a period of years.Continue reading > >
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Why Having Diabetes Doesnt Necessarily Mean Youll Die Sooner
Its true that, when you consider heart-related cardiovascular complications, men and women with diabetes tend to have higher rates of early death than their peers without the disease, according to research. But its also true that no two people with diabetes are the same, and how a person manages his or her blood sugar is key when considering how the disease might affect your life span.
Having diabetes wont necessarily change someone’s life expectancy it’s how diabetes progresses. For every individual, diabetes is going to progress differently, says Joanne Rinker, RD, CDE, director of practice and content development at the American Association of Diabetes Educators. If it progresses at an extremely slow rate, because diabetes is so individualized, it might be so slow that it does not impact their life expectancy whatsoever.
Instead of thinking only about how diabetes will impact your life span, experts suggest that people with the condition should take a broader look at their overall health. Diabetes is not a singular disease that one should focus on. Focus on how you can improve the different risk factors that can impact the functioning of the heart and other organs, says Medha Munshi, MD, director of geriatric diabetes programs at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. It’s important to think, What are the factors that would impact my length of life?
Prediabetes Flies Under The Radar
You can have prediabetes for years but have no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems show up. Thats why its important to talk to your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of the risk factors for prediabetes, which include:
- Being overweight
- Being 45 years or older
- Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
- Being physically active less than 3 times a week
- Ever having gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
Race and ethnicity are also a factor: African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at higher risk.
Ready to find out your risk? Take the 1-minute prediabetes risk test and be sure to share the results with your doctor.
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Cholesterol And Triglyceride Tests
Have a cholesterol and triglyceride test at least once a year. Aim for total cholesterol less than 4.0 mmol/L and triglycerides less than 2.0 mmol/L.
There are a number of causes of high cholesterol, including your family history and your diet. Too much saturated fat in your diet can increase the LDL cholesterol in your blood and result in the build-up of plaque in your blood vessels.
Foods high in saturated fats include full-fat dairy products, fatty meats, pastries, biscuits, cakes, coconut cream or coconut milk, palm oil and fatty take-away foods.
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You Need To Make Lifestyle Changes
While diabetes itself can harm your body, it also has a laundry list ofcomplications you need to consider. Almost every disease is easier to manage with improved diet, increased physical activity, and the resulting weight loss. Diabetes is no different. You dont have to be a health nut to effectively manage your diabetes, but lifestyle changes can make it easier.
Youre not alone in your journey to control your diabetes. At Walker Family Care, we can help you manage your diabetes and continue to live a healthy life. today to request an appointment at our Little River office.
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How A Diabetes Diagnosis May Actually Improve Life Quality
Many people live with diabetes for years before being diagnosed, but once they are, they can approach the condition head on. As a result of their efforts, many people may actually find their quality of life is better than it was before diagnosis.
Once they have the diagnosis and take action whether that action is just behavioral change because they didn’t have diabetes for long, or behavioral changes combined with a medication regimen they feel that they have a much higher quality of life after they were diagnosed, says Rinker.
Life Expectancy For Cats With Diabetes
I recently was forced to put my cat down because her diabetes got too bad. I first learned of her diabetes when she was 5 and had it pretty under control for 9 years. She found it well, but with her again her body could not maintain it anymore and she became very weak and a failing liver. My vet told me that only option would be to put her down, and even though I tried to push for some kind of medicine or surgery, but the vet said nothing would help, so I put her down. If correctly treated and maintained, the cat can live a long life with diabetes. I’ve got a 17.5 year old cat who has lived with diabetes for the past twelve years. He’s near the end – in too much pain from osteoarthritis and neuropathy – but with twice daily insulin and diet changes, he’s been my happiest, most long-lived cat to date. I watched him being born in April 2000, so we have a special attachment…not sure what I’ll do without him. But this goes to show that with loving care a diabetic cat can thrive and be happy. Please don’t put your cat down or worse, leave the diabetes untreated . If you can’t afford or commit to treatment, you might be able to find someone who is willing to care for a diabetic kitty. Best of luck.Continue reading > >
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