ما عوامل خطر السكري من النوع الثاني؟ وهل يمكنني تغيير أيٍ منها؟

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What is Type 2 Diabetes?

How common is type 2 diabetes?

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes is increasing. The 8th edition of the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) Diabetes Atlas released in 2019, estimated that:

• One in 11 people have diabetes (425 million)
• One in two adults with diabetes are undiagnosed (212 million)
• 12% of global health expenditure is spent on diabetes (USD$727 billion)
• Every 6 seconds a person dies from diabetes

IDF also estimated that by 2040:

• One in 10 adults will have diabetes
• Diabetes-related health expenditure will exceed USD$802billion

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a very serious condition

People with diabetes who have ongoing high blood glucose levels, are at an increased risk of having poor health outcomes compared to people who do not have diabetes. Some statistics that relate to people with diabetes include:

• People with diabetes are up to four time more likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes
• Diabetes is the leading cause of vision-loss globally and is the fifth most common cause of preventable blindness and fifth more common cause of moderate to severe visual impairment
• Kidney failure is three times more common in people with diabetes
• Amputations are 15 times more common in people with diabetes
• More than 30 percent of people with diabetes experience depression, anxiety, and distress
• Early diagnosis, optimal treatment, and effective ongoing support and management reduce risk of diabetes-related complications dramatically.

Who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes?

Risk factors can be divided into non-modifiable risk factors and modifiable risk factors. Non-modifiable risk factors are those that can’t be changed by you, for example your genetics. Modifiable risk factors can be changed, for example making changes to the amount you exercise.

You are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you are carrying weight around your belly. It is much more common in people from certain ethnic backgrounds like Indian, Middle Eastern, south-east Asian and indigenous populations. In these groups rates of diabetes can approach 30% of the adult population. In Caucasian populations, the rates are more typically 10% of the adult population.

Non-modifiable risk factors in type 2 diabetes?

Diabetes is much more common in people from certain ethnic backgrounds like Indian, Middle Eastern, south-east Asian and indigenous populations. In these groups rates of diabetes can approach 30% of the adult population. In Caucasian populations, the rates are more typically 10% of the adult population.

The non-modifiable risk factors which increase your chance of developing prediabetes include:

• Have a family history of diabetes
• Being older (over 55 years of age) – the risk increases as we age
• Ethnic background, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Pacific Islanders, Asian and South East Asian, African Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Hispanics/ Latinos

Being aware of the non-modifiable risk factors is extremely important. For people who have a family history of type 2 diabetes, you need to be more alert and start taking action early to prevent or delay developing type 2 diabetes.

Modifiable risk factors in type 2 diabetes

The modifiable risk factors which increase your chance of developing prediabetes include:

• Being overweight or obese, particularly extra weight around the waist
• Being physically inactive
• Eating a poor diet (one that is high in fat, salt, and sugar)
• High blood pressure

Are there other risk factors?

There are some risk factors that cross over between modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Some of these include:

• Having signs associated with diabetes like skin tags and dark colouration around the neck and arm pits called acanthosis nigricans
• Over 45 years of age and being overweight

Can I prevent type 2 diabetes?

You may have just found out that you are at risk of developing diabetes. This may be more difficult than you anticipated. However, if you don’t have diabetes yet, this is actually really good news. It means that you can make changes now to prevent or delay developing type 2 diabetes. Making some simple changes now, can have a huge impact on your health for the years ahead.

So, yes! You can prevent type 2 diabetes. Phew!

What can I do to prevent type 2 diabetes?

There are changes you can make to improve your health and reduce your risk of developing diabetes. These include:

• Eating well
• Moving your body more
• Being a healthy weight
• Setting realistic goals
• Getting support
• Make changes part of your everyday

Join the our online 12-week personalised program to learn how to easily incorporate these changes into your everyday routine.

There is also some evidence that suggests quitting smoking can help to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. While there still needs to be more research done in this by scientists, there are plenty of other great reasons to quit smoking. For example, quitting smoking can help to lower your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.

Making these changes can also help to reduce your risk of developing diabetes comorbidities; hypertension and dyslipidemia.

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

You may have learned that you have some of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. It is important to look out for any symptoms of diabetes and to see a doctor ASAP if you notice anything wrong.

The most common symptom of diabetes is feeling nothing at all. Yes, nothing. That’s part of the problem. A person with undiagnosed prediabetes feels ok but the damage is already occurring. Many people experience tiredness and fatigue, and that is really noticed when you start to get sugars under control.

In type 2 diabetes, the general symptoms include:

• Fatigue and irritability
• Excessive thirst, frequent urination, and dehydration
• Ongoing hunger
• Yeast and bacterial infections
• Dry and itchy skin
• Cuts and wounds that don’t heal quickly
• Pain and numbness in your feet or legs
• Blurred vision
• Changes in weight

Some symptoms of diabetes can vary between men and women. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus in men are often related to sexual health and function. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes in women also often relate to sexual health and function.

ماذا ينبغي أن أفعل بعد ذلك؟

إذا كنت تعاني من أي أعراض للسكري من النوع الثاني أو لديك عوامل خطر للسكري من النوع الثاني، فمن المهم إجراء الفحوصات في أقرب وقت ممكن. بعض الأشخاص يكونون أكثر عرضة للخطر ويحتاجون إلى فحوصات منتظمة. إذا كان عمرك 45 عامًا أو أكثر، أو لديك عوامل خطر أخرى للسكري، فستحتاج إلى فحوصات أكثر تكرارًا. إن تشخيص السكري من النوع الثاني وعلاجه مبكرًا يعني أنك تستطيع تقليل خطر تطور المضاعفات أو تأخير مضاعفات السكري من النوع الثاني مثل تلف الأعصاب، والعمى، وأمراض القلب. ومن المهم أن تعرف أن تشخيص السكري من النوع الثاني لا ينبغي أن يعتمد فقط على استخدام اختبار Hb A1c.

بعد أن تعرف حالة السكري من النوع الثاني لديك، أو إذا كنت بالفعل مصابًا بالسكري من النوع الثاني، فإن الخطوة التالية الأهم هي التثقيف والتعلّم. يمكنك الانضمام إلى برنامج السكري من النوع الثاني لمدة 12 أسبوعًا (12-week Type 2 Diabetes Program) لمساعدتك على تعلم كيفية الوقاية من السكري من النوع الثاني أو تأخيره. البرنامج مُخصّص ومُفصّل حسب احتياجاتك، ويقدّم لك المزيد من المحتوى الذي تريده أنت. كما يساعدك البرنامج على الحفاظ على الدافعية ويعلّمك التغييرات التي تحتاج إلى القيام بها. الأسبوع الأول مجاني ومليء بمعلومات مفيدة وأساسية.

إذا كنت ترغب في الانضمام إلى برنامج داعم، مع محتوى فيديو سهل الفهم يغطي جميع جوانب السكري، فانضم إلى برنامج السكري من النوع الثاني المُخصّص لمدة 12 أسبوعًا (personalised 12-week Type 2 Diabetes Program) اليوم! ولا تنسَ: عند التسجيل ستحصل على الأسبوع الأول مجانًا!