Masoud Yahya Al-Maskary*
Professor in Medicine & Consultant in Endocrinology and Diabetes. Managing Director, Al-Waha Medical Center, Oman
*Email Address for Correspondence: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that involves the body’s production or utilization of insulin. Diabetes is identified as either type 1 or type 2. Type 1 diabetes has its onset in childhood and occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce the insulin required to break down glucose in the blood stream. Type 2 diabetes results from the inability of the body to effectively utilize the insulin it produces and is therefore unable to break down the glucose in the blood stream. An excess of blood glucose, known as hyperglycaemia, can cause serious complications including damage to nerves and blood vessels which can lead to amputation, blindness and cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that 347 million people have diabetes, with 1.5 million deaths in 2012 being directly attribute to the disease. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of global diabetes cases with an estimated 175 million of these cases being undiagnosed.
Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes, Nutrition, Body Mass Index, Glycemic Index
Citation: Al-Maskary MY. Type 2 diabetes and nutrition: A concise update. Canad J Clin Nutr 2016; 4 (2): 81-85.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2016.02.08
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