Diabetes is not a fate

Diabetes is not a fate: There are many ways of influencing diabetes mellitus type 2. Simple measures such as more exercise and weight reduction have great influence.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Around one in ten people in Germany suffers from the metabolic disease diabetes mellitus. About 90% of them suffer from type 2. In diabetes mellitus type 2, the blood sugar is poorly absorbed by the cells of our body. The disease arises most often in the course of life. The type 1 diabetes is usually innate and here is basically insulin production is not in order. The insulin is produced by cells of the pancreas. An unknown autoimmune process destroys these cells. In contrast to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes has its own influence.

Problems with the early detection of type 2 diabetes
In contrast to type 1 disease, the symptoms in type 2 are very spongy. In Type 1, there are the classic symptoms such as feeling thirsty, increased urination and weight loss. These are also anchored in the consciousness of most people. The symptoms of type 2, however, are quite unspecific and as a result many are recognized late. General symptoms such as fatigue, tiredness, general weakness, weight gain, frequent hunger and depressive moods accompany those affected for a long time undetected and not treated properly. So it happens that the disease can manifest itself.

Self-initiative is in demand - and scientifically substantiated
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes are obesity, smoking, physical inactivity and high blood pressure. Through a changed lifestyle, those affected can set the course for an improvement of the symptoms right at the beginning of the disease. Often then a drug treatment is not necessary.

The statutory health insurance DAK carried out together with the University of Heidelberg a study in pilot courses of a DAK movement program for diabetics with the type 2. In 9 German cities around 250 diabetes patients attended the courses once a week. The endurance performance of them increased by 50 percent after ten weeks. „Diabetes mellitus type 2 is one of the few diseases that can literally run away“, says Dr. Gerhard Huber, from the Institute for Sports and Sports Science of the University of Heidelberg. He accompanied the pilot courses of the DAK movement courses. „From other studies we know that regular physical activity sustainably lowers the blood sugar level and thus protects against diabetic long-term consequences“.

There seems to be a messenger in type 2 diabetes that causes our muscle and liver cells to be much less responsive to insulin. As a result of physical activity, one could also measure lower levels of the messenger and insulin resistance was reduced.

Prospects for Type 2 diabetics
It used to be called type 2 diabetes „adult-onset diabetes“, because he usually appeared only in later years of life. Meanwhile, more and more younger people are affected by the disease. Therefore, their appearance is associated with our lifestyle in the industrialized countries and they are counted among the so-called affluent diseases.

The basis for specific measures is an early diagnosis of the disease. But a change in diet to more fresh untreated products, increased exercise and sports and a weight reduction are basically meaningful measures. For those affected, this means that you do not surrender to his fate, but on the contrary must be active again. (Thorsten Fischer, Naturopath Osteopathy, 26.01.2010)

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