Type 2 diabetes is on the rise in the UK, with many people unaware they have it. Untreated diabetes can lead to long term health consequences so it’s important to recognise the signs and to correctly manage it.

People diagnosed with diabetes are unable to regulate the way the body uses sugar, or glucose. This causes high levels of sugar in the blood which can end up leading to serious and even life-threatening conditions. There is no cure for type 2 diabetes since it’s a chronic illness, but it can be effectively treated with medications and lifestyle changes.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes tend to develop over a long period of time and can initially be so mild that you don’t know you have it. Once you become symptomatic, you may experience:

• Increased thirst
• Unexplained weight loss 
• Tiredness
• Increased urination 
• Frequent infections
• Sores that are slow to heal
• Increased hunger
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision 
• Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet 

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

Up to 90% of people in the UK with diabetes have type 2. It used to be called adult-onset diabetes but children can and do develop it. In fact, childhood cases of type 2 diabetes are occurring more often than ever before.

Your pancreas creates a hormone called insulin that’s responsible for converting the sugar (glucose) in your blood into fuel for your cells. Glucose can be found in the foods you eat and liver naturally produces it as well. Insulin helps your body absorb glucose into the bloodstream, where it is converted into energy for the cells in your muscles and other tissues.

When you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin the way it should. This leads to an increase in the amount of glucose in your blood. Consistently high blood sugar levels can lead to serious complications.

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors

Being obese or significantly overweight is one of the biggest risks for developing type 2 diabetes. Our population is much heavier than it used to be, especially in children. This is why we’ve seen such an uptick in the number of cases of type 2 diabetes in the UK.

Lack of physical activity can make the problem even worse. Physical activity can help keep a person healthy as well as use up excess glucose as energy. When a poor diet is combined with little to no physical activity, obesity and type 2 diabetes becomes more likely.

Those with a family history are also more likely to get type 2 diabetes as are those of black, Asian, and Hispanic descent. High cholesterol is another factor that has been linked to diabetes.

Pregnant women can be at an increased risk, too, due to the hormonal shifts that occur during pregnancy. A woman who experienced a are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic Complications

Your blood travels throughout your body to keep it functioning the way it should. Because your blood reaches every nook and cranny, diabetes can affect several organs and body parts. Type 2 diabetics who consistently have high blood glucose levels are putting themselves at risk of: 

• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High blood pressure 
• Blood vessel disease 
• Irregular heartbeat 
• Digestive disorders 
• Irregular bowel movements 
• Loss of vision 
• Frequent skin infections
• Slow healing wounds
• Kidney disease
• Sleep apnoea 
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s 

Type 2 diabetes also affects your nerves. Over time, high blood sugar can damage or even destroy your nerves leading to numbness, tingling, and loss of feeling in your extremities. In extreme cases, amputation may be required. 

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Lifestyle choices is one of the main ways to keep type 2 diabetes at bay and to treat it if you’ve been diagnosed. You should try to eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes fats and sugars in moderation. 

Moderate physical activity can also make a major difference. Even just going for a short walk every day is beneficial. If you are physically able to, try to get at least 120 minutes of cardio in each week. Also avoid sitting for extended periods of time because this can impact how well your blood circulates. If you frequently sit down at work or at home, get up every 30 minutes and move around. 

Eating better and being more active should help you to lose weight, which is another way to prevent type 2 diabetes. Losing between 5-10% of your overall body weight can be enough to reduce your chances of becoming diabetic or prediabetic. 

Trulicity for Type 2 Diabetes

Trulicity is the brand name for a type 2 diabetes medication called dulaglutide. Dulaglutide is a part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists which are a non-insulin medication that’s used when diet and exercise alone isn’t enough. It works by stimulating the body’s natural production of insulin and by lowering blood glucose levels. Research has shown that it can even lower blood pressure and cholesterol. 

Your blood glucose levels will start to decrease after your first Trulicity injection. However, it can take up to 5 weeks for your blood sugar levels to have noticeable improvement. The maximum therapeutic benefit won’t be seen until you’ve been taken it for 3-6 months. 

Trulicity Side Effects 

Not everyone who takes Trulicity will experience side effects. Commonly reported side effects include 

• Increased bowel movements
• Abdominal pain
• Loose stool
• Tiredness
• Stomach tenderness 
• Trulicity vs. other Diabetes Drugs

Unlike many other diabetes medications, Trulicity only needs to be injected once a week. Another benefit of Trulicity is that one of the side effects is a decreased appetite. When taken alongside a healthy lifestyle, diabetics using Trulicity are more likely to effectively lose weight.

To help you with blood sugar control, Pharmacy Planet sells several diabetes medications including Trulicity. Contact us or continue exploring our website to find out more about how we can help you successfully manage your type 2 diabetes.