How Type 2 Diabetes Affects Your Body
By Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Type 2 diabetes is a common disease, affecting nearly 1 in 10 Americans. It occurs when the body cannot properly use sugar from foods. As a result, blood sugar remains high and can lead to complications if left untreated.
Even though type 2 diabetes affects millions of people, not everyone is aware of how it affects the body. Understanding the complications of this condition can help raise awareness about prevention and management.
This article details what happens when you have type 2 diabetes and ways to manage the disease.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the cells in your body are resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas when you eat foods that contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose (sugar) molecules during digestion, and insulin allows cells to take up that glucose from the blood to use as energy.
If cells are resistant to insulin, they will not be able to take up glucose. As a result, it remains in the bloodstream and leads to high blood sugar. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include excessive thirst and urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and unexplained weight loss.
Insulin resistance and the resulting type 2 diabetes may take many months or even years to develop. The development of type 2 diabetes is thought to be caused by a combination of factors. Being overweight or obese, having excess belly fat, and leading a sedentary lifestyle contribute to insulin resistance.
Your genes and family history may also make you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Certain racial and ethnic groups, including African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, and American Indians, have higher rates of type 2 diabetes than non-Hispanic white adults.
Keep in mind that type 2 diabetes is different than type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Individuals with type 1 diabetes do not produce insulin, whereas those with type 2 diabetes initially produce plenty of insulin but are resistant to it.
Effects of Type 2 Diabetes
If left untreated, high blood sugar resulting from insulin resistance can have detrimental effects on the body. Extra sugar circulating in the bloodstream can strain vital organs, including the kidneys and eyes, and contribute to heart issues, delayed wound healing, and more.
Many of the initial symptoms of the disease, like excessive thirst and urination, result from the body attempting to excrete sugar. In some instances, people develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and this is what leads to their diagnosis (although DKA can occur at any time during the disease).
DKA occurs when the body starts breaking down fat for energy, since it cannot use glucose. The byproducts of fat breakdown, known as ketones, build up in the blood and turn it acidic. Symptoms of DKA include a fruity- or sweet-smelling breath, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. DKA can be life-threatening and must be treated immediately.
Many of the other, long-term effects of type 2 diabetes stem from damage to blood vessels and/or nerves caused by high levels of circulating blood sugar. These include:
High blood pressure: Damage to blood vessels makes them stiff and restricts blood flow, leading to increased pressure. Individuals with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at increased risk of heart problems like atherosclerosis, heart failure, stroke, and heart attack. In fact, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death for individuals with diabetes.
Blurred vision and blindness: If the blood vessels in the eye are damaged due to high blood sugar, blurred vision and floaters can result. Eventually, this may lead to permanent blindness. The rate of cataracts and glaucoma is also higher among people with diabetes than among those without the disease.
Kidney disease: Blood vessel damage from type 2 diabetes can affect the kidneys and result in kidney disease. Symptoms of kidney disease include protein in the urine, ankle and leg swelling, high blood levels of BUN and creatinine, and weakness. Kidney disease can end in kidney failure and reliance on dialysis. It’s estimated that 10 to 40 percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes eventually experience kidney failure.
Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying): Damage to the digestive tract and vagus nerve, which regulates digestion, can lead to uncomfortable bloating and heartburn.
Numbness and tingling: Nerve damage is an unpleasant effect of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Eventually, it can cause sensations of numbness and tingling in the extremities. Numbness can make it more difficult to feel hot and cold sensations, which in turn can make injury more likely.
Increased risk of foot infection: Numbness from nerve and/or blood vessel damage can also make it more difficult to feel cuts or wounds on the feet. Plus, damage to blood vessels from type 2 diabetes can restrict blood flow in the body and decrease circulation to the feet. Wounds on the feet can therefore take longer to heal and may become infected over time, eventually leading to toe and foot amputations.
Worse complications from viruses: Individuals with type 2 diabetes are more likely to have serious complications from viral illnesses, like COVID-19, than those without diabetes. It’s thought that high blood sugars may help fuel inflammation that leads to complications.
Tips for Managing Diabetes
As you can see, the complications from type 2 diabetes are vast and can cause serious effects. The best way to prevent these issues is to keep your blood sugar in check. Type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed through diet, lifestyle, and/or medication.
Your healthcare provider can guide and educate you about the options for managing type 2 diabetes. Recommendations almost always include following a diabetic meal plan and making lifestyle changes. Medications may be considered depending on your needs and circumstances.
Here are some of the diet and lifestyle recommendations for type 2 diabetes:
Get on a meal schedule, and aim to eat meals around the same time every day to keep blood sugar levels stable
Build a balanced plate at meals with lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats and cooking oils, and high-fiber carbs like whole grains or fruit
Cut back on sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates, starchy veggies, and sweets
Visit with a registered dietitian to learn tips about monitoring carbohydrate intake and building balanced meals
Engage in moderate aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week
Add in resistance and strength exercises, including weightlifting and yoga
Work with your healthcare provider and registered dietitian to set weight loss goals if you are overweight
It’s also important to learn about the signs of high and low blood sugar. Your healthcare provider can give you information about what to do in these circumstances.
While the complications of type 2 diabetes may seem daunting, there is a lot you can do to manage the disease and prevent these issues. Take advantage of resources from your healthcare team to help you in your journey.
Note from Healthy For Life Meals: Our diabetic meals plans are nutritionally balanced and are a great choice for those with type 2 diabetes. Our meal plans follow the nutrition guidelines of the American Diabetes Association, so we’ll take the guesswork and time out of meal planning and prep for you. Get started today with healthy meal delivery to your door.