8 Symptoms & Effects of Diabetes Type II

Written by Manja from Almostplantbased on July 14, 2020

Last updated on March 26, 2021 at 03:28 am

Symptoms and effects of Diabetes Type II have a high impact on those that suffer from it. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people living with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. This condition is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, strokes, heart attacks, and lower limb amputations worldwide [1].
Diabetes, also called diabetes mellitus, refers to a disorder characterised by a loss of insulin, either quantitatively or qualitatively. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high blood glucose levels. Its function is to stimulate the use of that glucose, or to store it for future use.
The pancreas is a digestive gland located behind the stomach and the intestines. It is responsible for the production of blood glucose regulating hormones like insulin, as well as digestive enzymes.

3 Types of Diabetes explained

The term diabetes can cause some confusion because there are actually three types of diabetes.

1. Type I Diabetes is an autoimmune condition that affects the pancreas and destroys the cells responsible for insulin production. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and it is not related to nutrition or lifestyle habits. It is characterized by the total or partial absence of insulin; therefore insulin supplementation is its only cure.
2. Type II Diabetes is generally what people mean when they use the word diabetes. It is a disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors, in which there is a loss of function of insulin. This type of diabetes appears in people who are 40 or 50 years old, although it can be diagnosed earlier if environmental factors (mostly bad dietary habits) favor it.
3. Gestational Diabetes is diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy, with blood glucose levels that have been normal before.

Why is Insulin Resistance causing Diabetes?

The primary factor behind Type II Diabetes is insulin resistance [2], which is a state where insulin is normally produced by the pancreas, but the cells of the body do not respond to it.

When bad dietary habits, especially heavy sugar and carbohydrates consumption are repeated over time, insulin will be produced to such an extent that the body will sort of get used to it.

As a result, insulin will lose its efficiency. Because of insulin resistance, blood sugar levels will continue to rise even after the production and release of this hormone in the bloodstream. Since muscles, fat cells and the liver do not respond well to insulin, the glucose present in excess in the bloodstream will neither be used for energy nor stored in the liver and fat cells, and will, therefore, begin to stick to the proteins that make up our tissues, blood vessels and organs. This process is called glycation, and not only is it responsible for the complications of diabetes; it is also the culprit behind aging [3].

Insulin resistance is not only caused by conditions of hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), it can also be caused by chronic stress.

Stress stimulates the production of stress hormones like cortisol, and studies have shown that chronic cortisol production can cause insulin resistance [4].

In recent years, scientists have found a strong association between red meat consumption and the onset of type II diabetes. As a result, the consumption of red meat is now classified as a risk factor for developing type II diabetes [5]. Red meat is particularly high in iron, and a causative link exists between increased dietary iron intake and the development of diabetes [6].

8 Symptoms & Effects of Type II Diabetes

1. Symptoms of diabetes can be acute or chronic. Acute symptoms are usually the reason why diabetes is first diagnosed. But if they occur in a person already known to have this condition, they are a sign that the person’s treatment isn’t optimal and that their blood glucose levels are not balanced.
2. These symptoms include excessive urination, thirst, rapid weight loss, extreme hunger, as well as the presence of ketones in urine. Ketones are chemicals that the body produces to use for energy in the absence of insulin.
3. Consciousness and normal cognitive functioning are also compromised, with symptoms ranging from a simple irritable behavior to a coma. These acute symptoms are caused by the unstable blood glucose levels in the brain which go up and down erratically, in the absence of the stabilizing action of insulin.
4. In the long term, type II diabetes damages large blood vessels, causing diabetic macroangiopathy, as well as the smaller blood vessels and capillaries, causing diabetic microangiopathy.
5. When large blood vessels are compromised, chronic heart disease occurs, blood flow to the brain is decreased and the extremities, especially the lower limbs which are farthest from the heart, do not receive enough blood circulation, causing chronic ischemia, gangrene, and amputation.
6. Microangiopathy can affect the eyes, causing blindness. It can also impact the kidneys’ ability to filtrate blood and gradually push them into failure. Diabetic microangiopathy is also responsible for nerve damage.
7. Diabetic nerve damage usually presents as a gradual and ascending loss of sensation in the extremities. It can also interfere with how the body processes pain signals.
8. As a result of nerve damage, diabetics may lose the ability to sense pain, which is the body’s indicator that something bad is going on. This will cause many emergencies that are usually painful to go unnoticed. This is particularly the case of heart attacks, which may present as a simple discomfort in diabetics, and prove fatal in case the symptom is not taken seriously.

Reverse your Pre-Diabetic State by following these Nutrition & Lifestyle Guidelines

Since Type II Diabetes is caused by a combination of insulin resistance and high blood glucose levels, it makes sense that dietary guidelines are the most efficient way to manage this condition.

Decreasing glucose levels is essential, and is the most important facet of the nutritional management of diabetes. To achieve this, it’s important to understand where glucose comes from. Contrary to popular belief, glucose doesn’t just come from sweet foods. Glucose is a simple carbohydrate, and it is the final molecule that carbohydrates will be transformed into.

Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches, and fibers present in fruits, pasta, bread, sweets, vegetables, grains, and legumes. When digested, the carbohydrates in these foods will be transformed from their complex form into a simpler form, which is glucose.

Carbohydrates are not all bad, and therefore should not be omitted from a diabetic’s diet. Instead, we should focus on consuming the right carbohydrates and avoiding the bad ones.

The right carbohydrates are those with a low glycemic index, for example steel-cut oats, quinoa, sweet potatoes, whole wheat, and lentils. The glycemic index is defined as a carbohydrate’s ability to increase blood sugar levels, and therefore the higher the glycemic index, the worse the food is.

What You can do Today to Lower Your Insulin Resistance

• The consumption of certain foods or nutrients has been proven to lower insulin resistance. That’s the case for cinnamon [7], fiber-rich foods [8], and magnesium [9].
• Adipose tissue (fat cells) may also be a contributing factor to insulin resistance [10]. As a result, weight loss interventions such as our own 21-day program can help. Physical exercise is also a great way to lower insulin resistance [11].
• Since insulin resistance may be caused by stress, it’s important to lower stress levels. Furthermore, healthy sleep patterns and getting enough sleep each night has been proven to lower insulin resistance [12].
• Intermittent fasting can also help improve insulin sensitivity in diabetics [13].

To finish, we need to address the topic of artificial sweeteners. Many people tend to consume products artificially sweetened with aspartame, acesulfame K or saccharin, since they are advertised as a diabetic’s best friend. However, these artificial sweeteners may cause more harm than good. Many studies have linked their consumption to a higher risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, depression, poor gut health, and many other conditions. Instead, you can use stevia and erythritol, which are safer and healthier alternatives.

Symptoms and Effects of Diabetes Type II  – The Bottom Line:

• Type II Diabetes is a leading cause of mortality and cardiovascular complications worldwide.
• It is caused by a combination of high blood glucose levels and insulin resistance.
• Insulin resistance is a state where fat, liver and muscle cells do not respond to insulin.
• As a result, glucose continues to increase in the bloodstream despite insulin production.
• Type II diabetes is responsible for strokes, heart attacks, and limb amputations.
• It is also a cause of blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage.
• Nutritional and lifestyle interventions for diabetes should focus on lowering blood glucose levels and improving insulin sensitivity.

Diabetes Recipe: No Bake Bars

To help manage diabetes, we suggest this healthy and filling recipe.

These bars are high in soluble fiber which can lower insulin resistance and doesn’t spike blood glucose levels.

The cinnamon and the dark chocolate have been proven to lower insulin resistance. This is a sweet treat, which can also help with cravings and feelings of restriction.

Oats and quinoa are a healthy source of soluble fiber and protein. They are a good food to include in a diabetic’s diet. They are filling, satisfying, have a low glycemic index and can improve insulin sensitivity.

Almonds have been shown to lower blood glucose levels and to improve cardiovascular health markers [14].

Cinnamon is high in chromium and polyphenols which have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity [7].

Dark chocolate is high in polyphenols, and it has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity [15].

Ingredients

• 1 cup oats.
• 1 cup of uncooked quinoa.
• ½ cup of softened almond butter.
• A pinch of salt.
• 1 tbsp of cinnamon.
• ¼ cup of stevia or eryhtritol. *
• ½ cup of unsweetened chocolate chips.

*Make sure you do not substitute with other sweeteners such as white sugar, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup or agave. They will increase blood sugar levels and make this recipe unsuitable for diabetics.

Instructions

• The first step is optional, but if you would like extra flavor in your grains you can toast them gently for 10 to 15 minutes in the oven.
• Mix your oats, quinoa, salt, sweetener, and cinnamon in a bowl.
• Add your soft almond butter to the dry ingredients. If the almond butter isn’t liquid enough to fully coat the oats and the quinoa, you can soften it by microwaving it or double boiling it.
• Mix the almond butter into the oats and quinoa making sure they are fully coated.
• Line a tray with parchment paper and transfer your mixture into it.
• Level out the first layer of the bar, and put your dish in the fridge.
• In the meantime, melt your chocolate chips in a double boiler or the microwave.
• Take your bar out of the fridge and pour the chocolate layer on top.
• Smooth out the chocolate and spread it over the whole bar, creating an even layer.
• You can always mix the chocolate chips into the grains and almond butter mixture if you prefer.
• Put in the fridge to set for 3 to 4 hours.
• After the chocolate has hardened, cut into smaller bars and store in airtight containers.
• These bars can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Feel free to enjoy one for breakfast, a snack or as a healthy dessert option.

Nutrition Summary for Diabetes Type II