NIDDM is the medical term for Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. It is also known as Type 2 diabetes. It is a condition in which your body is resistant to insulin, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.
Here, I will explain what NIDDM is, its causes, symptoms, and how to manage it.
Niddm Medical Abbreviation
Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) is a chronic condition in which your body’s cells are resistant to insulin.
In Insulin Dependent Diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin. In NIDDM, the body is resistant to insulin, which causes high blood sugar levels.
If left untreated, high blood sugar levels can lead to serious health problems.
You will notice that NIDDM is often diagnosed based on high glucose levels. It’s a complex disorder that is influenced by a combination of genetic factors and varying degrees of insulin resistance.
It is good to understand these differences in order to make a timely diagnosis and receive appropriate treatment.
Let’s look at the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for those who have this condition.
Causes and Risk Factors
NIDDM is not caused by a single factor. Instead, it is influenced by a number of different factors. Here are some things you should know:
Genetic Factors
Our genes play a role in NIDDM. Certain genes are associated with insulin resistance, and researchers are working to identify these genetic factors. However, genetics is only one factor.
Central Obesity
If you are overweight, especially around your midsection, you are at an increased risk for NIDDM, especially after age 40. Central obesity is often associated with other health problems, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Cholesterol Levels
Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) can also increase your risk. Not only does this increase your risk for developing diabetes, but it can also increase your risk for heart disease.
Lifestyle Choices
An inactive lifestyle combined with poor eating habits can lead to weight gain, which can make it harder for insulin to work properly.
Fatty Acids and Insulin Resistance
High fatty acid levels in your blood can disrupt insulin function, leading to even more resistance.
Metabolic Syndrome
This syndrome ties various health issues together and shows how interconnected they can be. We’ll discuss this more in the following sections.
Symptoms of NIDDM
A person can feel unusual increase in appetite even after eating a normal or even more than normal meal.
This unusual increase in hunger is often accompanied by unexpected weight loss as the body can’t convert glucose into energy.
Besides these symptoms, fatigue is felt because the body can’t convert glucose into energy. Blurred vision is also a symptom of NIDDM because of blood sugar fluctuations.
- Increased Appetite
A big increase in hunger despite sufficient food intake means the body can’t use glucose.
- Unexplained Weight Loss
This happens when the body can’t convert glucose into energy resulting to hunger and weight loss.
- Fatigue
Prolonged tiredness because glucose conversion is not effective, leaving individuals drained.
- Blurred Vision
Changes in eyesight can occur due to blood sugar fluctuations.
Diagnosis and Verification
Diagnosis of patients with NIDDM is done with a series of blood tests that measures blood sugar levels.
Fasting plasma glucose test is one of them which requires at least 8 hours of fasting to measure the sugar levels in the blood.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is another important test which measures the body’s ability to process sugar for 2 hours.
- This test is done after an overnight fast of at least 8 hours.
- It’s a starting point for initial diagnosis of it.
- This will show how the body processes sugar over a 2 hour period.
- It’s important for glucose metabolism and handling.
- Diagnostic tool that reflects average blood sugar levels for the past 2-3 months.
- For diagnosis and management of NIDDM.
For people with diabetes, these tests will be accompanied by a review of symptoms and medical history. A diagnosis of diabetes usually requires repeating the tests on different occasions to ensure the blood sugar levels are consistently high.
- A review of patient symptoms and medical history.
- This will help to put the lab results in context and get a more accurate diagnosis.
In type 2 diabetics, symptoms develop gradually and may not be felt until it becomes severe. That’s why regular testing is important especially for those who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Regular Testing:
- For early detection especially for those with history of gestational diabetes.
- To monitor and manage progression to NIDDM.
Insulin Resistance and Its Mechanism
Insulin resistance is at the heart of NIDDM. When your cells become less sensitive to insulin, your blood sugar levels can rise.
Initially, your pancreas works overtime to produce more insulin, but over time, it can’t keep up. This leads to a state called hyperinsulinemia, where there’s too much insulin in your bloodstream.
Both NIDDM and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes share similar pathways due to these mechanisms.
You might also notice skin changes, like dark patches in areas such as under your arms or around your neck, which can indicate insulin resistance.
Managing NIDDM focuses on improving your cells’ sensitivity to insulin and reducing glucose production in the liver.
Treatment Options
Management of NIDDM requires a combination of lifestyle changes, medication and regular monitoring.
New developments in diabetes treatment such as GLP-1 receptor agonists have shown weight loss and cardiovascular benefits.
Unlike insulin dependent diabetes, NIDDM can be managed initially with lifestyle changes and oral medications.
Combining aerobic and resistance training optimizes metabolic health in type 2 diabetics.
Diet and Exercise
Management of NIDDM requires diet, exercise and pharmacologic interventions. Diet, exercise and medication is important for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
Adding exercise to daily activities improves glycemic control in NIDDM patients.
NIDDM is managed through dietary changes, medication and lifestyle adjustments for good glycemic control.
Medication
Pharmaceuticals helps improve quality of life of patients by controlling Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.
Commonly used drugs such as sulfonylureas, metformin (biguanide) and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors modulate blood sugar levels. SGLT2 inhibitors lower glucose by blocking its reabsorption in the kidneys and excretion through urine.
Glycemic Monitoring
For NIDDM patients, regular blood glucose monitoring is key to prevention and management of the condition.
Patients who monitor their glucose can make better decisions on their diet and lifestyle because of this awareness.
Glucose meters at home are a convenient way for patients to monitor their levels. Healthcare professionals may do laboratory tests that will give a more accurate reading of a patient’s blood sugar levels.
Read Now : Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis (EDKA)
Complications Associated with NIDDM
Uncontrolled Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus can lead to various health problems.
Complications of suboptimal blood sugar control are signaled by slow healing of sores. It makes individuals more prone to recurrent infections.
Feeling numbness or tingling in the extremities can be a sign of nerve damage due to NIDDM. Chronic inflammation of metabolic syndrome can worsen these NIDDM complications.
Preventive Measures
To maintain good blood sugar levels for NIDDM patients requires commitment to regular exercise and balanced diet.
Patients with this condition should adopt lifestyle changes they can live with for the long term which can prevent type 2 diabetes.
To increase insulin sensitivity in NIDDM patients, losing weight through diet and exercise is necessary.
Losing 5-7% of body weight reduces their risk of developing type 2 diabetes while eating nutritious food and controlled portions helps with weight management and disease prevention.
As we age, we become more susceptible to NIDDM. Ethnicities such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans are at higher risk for this type of diabetes.
NIDDM and Metabolic Syndrome
Insulin resistance is a major factor in the development of NIDDM. When it is not controlled, it can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and therefore higher mortality.
A common complication of NIDDM is neuropathy which occurs due to prolonged high blood sugar and damage to the nerves.
Those who don’t manage their NIDDM well are at risk of nephropathy that can lead to kidney failure.
Wrap Up
By combining diet, exercise, medication and regular check-ups, NIDDM patients can live healthy and happy lives. Research is ongoing for better management in the future.
