According to the report published by the International Diabetes Federation on the global diabetes epidemic, a diabetic patient will increase by 55% by the year 2035. WHO latest statistics in 2014 on the universal prevalence, the number of people with diabetes has risen from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014 and the numbers are still increasing. The rising trend in the statistics is not surprising at all given that 21st-century generation’s lifestyle: Fast food, click of buttons and air conditioning environment. All of which makes a case of newly diagnosed diabetics type 2 at 18 years old not an uncommon case.
The first line of cure for type 2 diabetes usually involves getting patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle while under observation by medical professionals. If the numbers don’t improve at the end of the duration, the subsequent treatment option is by oral antidiabetic prescriptions such as Metformin which is sold under numerous trade names including Glucophage XR. Insulin injection is the last resort prescribed by doctors for a diabetic patient.
How does diabetes happen?
At a cellular level, diabetes type 1 happens at an earlier age due to insufficient production of insulin by their pancreas. Diabetes type 1 is usually due to inborn genetic factors requiring long term insulin dose whereas type 2 diabetes has modifiable causes but harder to manage once diagnosed. Type 2 diabetes has a normal insulin level but cells are resistant to insulin and are unable to utilize it for energy and protein production in the liver, intestine, muscles and fat cells. Based on various studies, type 1 diabetes has a higher prevalence than type 2.
What are the causes of type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is preventable if diagnosed earlier during pre-diabetes state whereby individuals have higher than normal blood glucose level but is not enough to qualify as a diabetic. Therefore, take note of the causes in type 2 diabetes as they only require easier intervention without the need for medicine :
- Sedentary lifestyle as well as high-pressure job
- Overweight
- Existing health conditions: Hypertension, cardiovascular disease
- “Good” cholesterol and trigylceride level is high
- History of gestational diabetes: Diabetes occurring during pregnancy
- Fat distribution: Risk of type 2 diabetes if fat tends to accumulate in your abdomen
- Elderly age more than 40 years old.
- Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a condition causing irregular menstruation and infertility due to dysfunction ovaries.
- Having areas on the body with darkened skin such as the neck and armpits
How to prevent type 2 diabetes?
If you have not been taking care of your health as much as your wealth, it is never too late to start doing so. The first step is the hardest- Motivation. We suggest inviting friends and family members to go on this journey of longevity with you. Also, remember to be realistic with your objectives in every step of the way by making small changes but staying consistent. Here’s what #selflove looks like in reality:
- Reduce the volume of food in your meals. For example, instead of a full plate, reduce it by a quarter or half.
- Take small frequent meals so that the process of being on a diet isn’t too hard mentally and physically. This method allows a person to take snacks in the form of fruits, nuts or vegetables in between main meals.
- Cut down on consuming fast food and preferably start cooking from home for instance meal-planning.
- Stop smoking and start taking alcohol less.
- Learn to manage stress more effectively because mental stress can exert unnecessary tension on your cardiovascular system
- Atten regular health check-ups to monitor the progress of your journey
Does Glucophage cure diabetes?
Diabetes is not curable but its complication is controllable. As usual, all doctors will still advice you take make lifestyle changes as mentioned before in addition to taking your prescriptions regularly. Lifestyle modifications alongside taking anti hypoglycemic agents ensure diabetic patients are on optimum management with the observable and effective outcome. Glucophage contains a type of biguanide known as metformin. It exerts its action on mainly the liver by reducing the production of glucose through a process known as gluconeogenesis, increase insulin sensitivity in the muscle cells and reduce glucose absorption by the intestinal wall. In totality, its mechanism of action allows Glucophage to exert a modest effect of causing weight loss. Aside from that, Glucophage added benefit is protecting the cardiovascular system which is the cause of one of the most life-threatening complications of diabetes, heart attack. Consequently, Glucophage works in synergy in controlling the level of blood sugar in diabetic patients effectively in addition to conferring protection on the heart and blood vessels.
References
- Scott, A. G. (2014, December 12). Is Metformin Effective for Weight Loss? Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/836254
- Pernicova, I., & Korbonits, M. (2014). Metformin—mode of action and clinical implications for diabetes and cancer. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 10(3), 143–156. doi: 10.1038/nrendo.2013.256
