Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition in which blood sugar – the main type of sugar you get from food – is constantly at risk of becoming too high. Normally, the hormone insulin has the task of regulating blood sugar, but if you have type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the insulin it makes is not absorbed by the cells. Over time, high blood sugar levels can trigger a wave of destruction in the body and these destructive effects can double as the first symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
Some of the more acute effects fall into the category of autonomic neuropathy – damage to the nerves that control your internal organs.
The symptoms of autonomic neuropathy depend on what functions of the body are affected.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Renal Diseases (NIDDK), damage to nerves in the digestive system can cause fecal incontinence.
Fecal incontinence, also called accidental leaking from the intestine, is the accidental elimination of solid or liquid stools from the anus.
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There are key components in controlling blood sugar – committing to a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Technically, there is nothing you cannot eat, but you should limit certain carbohydrates, because they can cause spikes in blood sugar.
Simple carbohydrates are the worst culprits because, as Harvard Health explains, they are “easily and quickly used for energy by the body because of their simple chemical structure, often leading to a faster rise in blood sugar and insulin secretion from the pancreas. “.
Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, are a safer bet for controlling blood sugar.
Harvard Health explains: “Many foods with complex carbohydrates contain fiber, vitamins and minerals and take longer to digest – meaning they have less immediate impact on blood sugar, causing it to rise more slowly.”
The glycemic index (GI) can help you distinguish between the two carbohydrates.
IG is a classification system for foods that contain carbohydrates. It shows how quickly each food affects the blood sugar level when the food is eaten alone.
As the NHS explains, foods with carbohydrates that are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid rise in blood glucose have a high GI rating.
High GI foods include:
- Sugar and sugary foods
- Sugary soft drinks
- White bread
- Potatoes
- White rice.
Low or medium GI foods are broken down more slowly and cause a gradual increase in blood sugar levels over time, explains the NHS.
They include:
- Some fruits and vegetables
- Wrists
- Whole foods, such as oatmeal.
In addition, 2.5 hours of physical activity per week can help lower blood sugar, adds the NHS.