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How Long Does Someone With Type 2 Diabetes Live

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Diabetes And Healthy Eating

LIVE Q& A Type 2 diabetes | Ask the doctors

If you have diabetes its important to include a wide variety of nutritious and healthy foods in your diet, and to avoid snacking on sugary foods.

Enjoy a variety of foods from each food group be sure to include foods high in fibre and low in fat and reduce your salt intake. Its helpful to consult with a dietitian to review your current eating plan and provide a guide about food choices and food quantities.

Life Expectancy In Diabetes

Any condition that has the potential to affect the body, the organs, the functioning, and many parts of daily life can be a cause for concern. Diabetes is one such condition that is chronic and can create a severe threat to life at multiple stages. Each hypoglycemic episode, if not treated on time, can be potentially fatal. Moreover, each hypoglycemic episode, even if treated on time, can cause harm to the heart, kidneys, and other organs in the body leading to added stress on the working and functioning of the organs.

This is why people with diabetes have to follow a low glycemic diet plan to ensure that even though they have no choice but to live with the condition, they can choose how they deal with the symptoms and make it less harmful for them. Life expectancy can play a role here.

Type 2 Diabetes And Life Expectancy

Diabetes can have serious health implications that affect life expectancy. The impact depends on various factors, such as how soon a person receives a diagnosis and treatment, and how well they and their healthcare team manage the condition.

Other influential factors include the severity and progression of symptoms, any complications, and how the body responds to treatment.

When they get a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, many people ask how it will affect the length of their life. Diabetes is complex, with many variables and possible complications, and each person is different. It is hard to know how the condition will affect an individuals life expectancy.

However, it appears likely that, with an early diagnosis and effective management, many people can expect to live as long as those without diabetes and to have a good quality of life.

This article will look at the factors that influence a person with type 2 diabetes life expectancy and how to maximize it.

Type 2 diabetes is a complex condition with many variables. At the time of diagnosis, the doctor will not be able to tell how the condition will affect a persons life expectancy.

A 2010 report from the United Kingdom estimated that type 2 diabetes reduced life expectancy by up to 10 years, while type 1 diabetes reduced it by at least 20 years, on average.

In 2015, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the following could reduce the risk of death linked to type 2 diabetes:

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Being Overweight Or Obese

You’re more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you’re overweight or obese with a body mass index of 30 or more.

Fat around your tummy particularly increases your risk. This is because it releases chemicals that can upset the body’s cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

This increases your risk of developing a number of serious conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.

Measuring your waist is a quick way of assessing your diabetes risk. This is a measure of abdominal obesity, which is a particularly high-risk form of obesity.

Women have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if their waist measures 80cm or more.

Asian men with a waist size of 89cm or more have a higher risk, as do white or black men with a waist size of 94cm or more.

Exercising regularly and reducing your body weight by about 5% could reduce your risk of getting diabetes by more than 50%.

Read about measuring your waist size

Ensuring A Long Life With Diabetes

How Long Do People With Type 2 Diabetes Live

Death is an unpleasant subject and no one wants to die of any disease. Hence, taking a certain precaution is a must as this can increase the life expectancy to a great extent. The following paragraphs deal with the subject as to how can you increase the life expectancy even if you suffer from a chronic condition like diabetes.

Hence, ensure a long life with diabetes by taking the following simple steps:

  • The first and foremost thing which is of prime importance in diabetes is to maintain healthy and recommended levels of blood glucose.In this regard, the following should be kept in mind:

The most important consideration, while you try to manage type 1 diabetes in your child is to regularly monitor the level of blood sugar or blood glucose. The following prescribed range of blood glucose should be kept in mind:

  • For a diabetic patient, the fasting blood sugar is under 126mg/dl or even higher.
  • As per the American Diabetes Association, the normal blood sugar for a diabetic should be around 80-130mg/dl before the meals and around 200mg/dl a couple of hours after meals.

The recommended levels for type 2 diabetes include:

Also Check: When Do You Start Taking Insulin For Diabetes

Living With Type 1 Diabetes

Insulin can be a difficult drug to manage. A mismatch between insulin and food intake can cause blood sugar to drop dangerously low . This can lead to symptoms such as a fast heart beat or feeling shaky. It can cause diabetic ketoacidosis, in which the bodys chemical balance becomes deranged because theres not enough insulin to move sugar into cells. Hypoglycemia can also lead to a diabetic coma, and even death. In the Scottish study, 21% of deaths among younger people with type 1 diabetes occurred as a result of diabetic coma and related causes.

That said, insulin works very well for most people with type 1 diabetes. Other reasons why people with type 1 diabetes are now living longer include:

Better insulins are available, and they are easier to use. Some last all day, others work very quickly. Insulin pumps make it easier to deliver insulin

Better ways to track blood sugar with home glucose monitors and even continuous glucose monitors. Keeping blood sugar close to normal is linked with longer life.

New drugs and other therapies to prevent and treat complications of diabetes, such as heart disease and kidney disease. Both are major causes of early death in people with type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Cure On The Horizon

In a very exciting research development from the Salk Institute, scientists created the first insulin-producing cells that can evade detection by the immune system. This breakthrough could represent a cure for type 1 diabetes, since the cells function just like normal insulin-producing cells but are not targeted or destroyed by the immune system. Also, because the cells appear invisible to the immune system, a person receiving a transplant of these lab-created cells would not need to take immunosuppressive drugs to avoid rejection of them.

Currently, these insulin-producing cells have only been tested in mice, which means it will take many more years of study before the cells might be ready for human trials. Nonetheless, this is a significant research breakthrough that could ultimately cure type 1 diabetes.

Until that time, people with type 1 diabetes should carefully monitor their blood glucose levels and strive to manage their sugar levels as tightly as possiblea task often easier said than done. Because some research shows that poorly controlled glucose levels may result in a shortened life expectancy for people with diabetes, its worth your while to follow your treatment plan as carefully as you can, so you can lead a healthy, active life for a long time to come.

  • Fast Stats: Diabetes. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Also Check: Types Of Insulin Type 1 Diabetes

    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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    Sexual Function And Diabetes

    From Type 2 To Diabetes-Free: How Did She Do It???

    Reduced blood supply and nerve damage can affect sexual function. Erectile dysfunction in men is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. This is a common problem for men of all ages and is more common in men with diabetes. Erectile dysfunction is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem physical, psychological or a mixture of both. Most cases of erectile dysfunction are physical, such as nerve or blood vessel damage. In women, sexual dysfunction is also reported, although there is a lack of research in this area. It is difficult to know whether this is directly related to hormonal changes such as menopause, or to diabetes.It is important to seek help from your doctor, diabetes educator or organisations such as Healthy Male Andrology Australia.

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    Can You Die From Diabetes Type 1 And Type 2 Life Expectancy

    Diabetes is a disease which is caused either due to the lack of proper production of insulin by the pancreas or due to the improper use of insulin in the human body. This gives rise to the blood sugar level or the glucose level in the body as it is the hormone insulin which is responsible for the breakdown of the carbohydrates and the other essential nutrients in the food to release the much-needed energy by the cells. It is a disease which adversely affects the primary function of metabolism in the body thereby exposing our body to several other complications.

    Diabetes affects different people in different manners and as such, it takes several forms. The most common type of diabetes is type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There are various factors and causes which contribute to each type and form of the disease.

    Due to the several complications that are associated with this condition, diabetes is often considered a deadly disease that can kill you. It is not uncommon to hear of people who have died of diabetes in the past few years. In this article, we shall further deep dive into the various issues that diabetes accompanies and might lead to the death of the diabetic patient.

  • Ensuring a Long Life with Diabetes
  • Sex Race Or Ethnic Background

    Differences between the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and the age of diagnosis may also depend on sex and race or ethnic background.

    The CDC note that from 1997 to 2011, doctors diagnosed American men roughly 2 years earlier than women, and African Americans and Hispanics around 6 years earlier than white people.

    The ADA also note that diabetes impacts people of some races or ethnic backgrounds far more than others.

    Lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity levels, may be among the reasons for higher prevalence rates, but the research is still inconclusive.

    Current rates of people in the U.S. who have a diagnosis of diabetes, according to race or ethnic background, are as follows:

    • 7.4 percent of non-Hispanic white people
    • 8.0 percent of Asian Americans
    • 12.1 percent of Hispanics
    • 12.7 percent of non-Hispanic black people
    • 15.1 percent of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives

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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.

    People With Type 2 Diabetes Live Longer If They’re Overweight: What Is The ‘obesity Paradox’

    How Long Do People With Type 2 Diabetes Live

    Overweight people have an advantage over everyone else thats stumping medical experts. Researchers arent sure why, but overweight patients with type 2 diabetes live longer than those who are underweight, normal weight, or obese. Theyre calling it the obesity paradox and have some theories as to why a little extra weight helps diabetics survive longer.

    The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine,analyzed over 10,500 type 2 diabetes patients for more than 10 years and found an unusual trend: The overweight and obese patients were at greater risk for cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or stroke, but the overweight group had a better chance at survival. And not just compared to the obese patients, but those who were overweight had better odds than those who were underweight or of normal weight with type 2 diabetes.

    When a person has type 2 diabetes, they have rising blood glucose levels, also known as sugar levels, according to the American Diabetes Association. Their bodies arent able to process insulin properly because their pancreas isnt able to keep up with how much sugar theyre ingesting or because their body is unable to use the insulin properly. Its the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90 to 95 percent out of the 26 million Americans who are diagnosed with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

    Source: Annals of Internal Medicine. 2015.

    Recommended Reading: How To Tell If Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes

    How Advocating For Your Health Can Help Extend Your Life With Diabetes

    As always, the most important step a person living with diabetes can take to improve the quality of their life and potentially extend it is to speak up for themselves to get the quality of social and medical support they need. Ask your provider questions, request the ability to access a diabetes educator, and make an effort to be as proactive as possible, Rinker says.

    Self-advocacy shouldnt stop at the doctors office door, though its important to speak with family members and friends so that they understand how to lend a hand, whether its recognizing signs of hypoglycemia , or knowing which snacks to stock up on before the next holiday get-together. A review published in November 2013 in the journal Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity suggested that support from friends and family can help you adhere to your diabetes management plan.

    Follow these steps to help manage diabetes and potentially lengthen your life:

    Impact Of Cardiovascular Disease

    High blood sugar levels put stress on the body and can damage the nerves and small blood vessels, decreasing circulation.

    This means that the heart has to work harder to deliver blood to the bodys tissues, especially those furthest away, such as in the feet and hands.

    The increased workload damages the hearts own blood vessels. This can cause the heart to weaken and eventually fail.

    A lack of blood reaching the bodys other organs and tissues starves them of oxygen and nutrition, which can cause them to die. Doctors refer to this as necrosis.

    The American Heart Association estimate that adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to experience fatal heart disease than those without diabetes.

    Among people aged 65 or older with the disease, the AHA report that:

    • around

    of moderately intense aerobic exercise each week, such as brisk walking or dancing.

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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.

    Relative Risk Of Death

    How You Can Live Better with Type 2 Diabetes

    Age adjusted risks of death show meaningful changes after the age of 60 for the diabetic population, coinciding with the age of diagnosis. For the age group 6064 the risk of death in the diabetic population is 0.09228 vs. 0.08981 for the non diabetic population. The relative risks are 197% for diabetics and 147% for non-diabetics for the same age group and an absolute risk reduction of -0.25%. As potential comorbidities and diabetes complications develop, the risk for the diabetic population increases, with the highest being 0.56 for the age group 8084 vs 0.43 for the non-diabetic population in the same age group. This translates to an absolute risk reduction of -12.7%. At ages 8084 the total relative risk of death is 129%, 159% for diabetics and 171% for non-diabetic. Subgroup analysis by sex shows women consistently have a higher risk of death with a maximum of 2.68 in the age group 3034. This risk is similar to that of ages 5054, where the risk in diabetic women is 264%. The highest calculated relative risk was for diabetic men ages 2024 where analysis showed a 3 times higher risk of death .

    Read Also: Type One Diabetes Side Effects

    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.

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