Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong disease that affects the way your body uses food for energy. The disease develops when an organ called the pancreas cannot make enough insulin or when the body is not able to use insulin correctly. Insulin is a hormone that allows the body's cells to use sugar (glucose) for energy. Insulin also helps the body store extra sugar in muscle, fat, and liver cells.
When insulin is not available or is not used correctly, the level of sugar in your blood gets too high and cells do not get the energy they need. If your blood sugar stays high for a long time, you can develop problems with your eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.
Controlling your blood sugar is the best way to avoid serious complications from type 2 diabetes, such as heart and blood vessel diseases. Many people who have type 2 diabetes enjoy healthy, active lives when they are able to control their blood sugar. Exercising, eating healthy foods, and taking medicines all help control blood sugar.
More and more adults and children are developing type 2 diabetes. This is largely because of bad eating habits and a lack of physical activity. It is important to know whether you or your children are at risk for type 2 diabetes and to know what you can do to help prevent the disease.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
You can develop type 2 diabetes if:
Your body does not respond as it should to insulin, making it hard for your cells to get glucose from the blood for energy. This is called insulin resistance.
Your pancreas does not make enough insulin.
Your weight, how much physical activity you get, and your family history all affect the way your body responds to insulin. If you are overweight, get little or no exercise, or have family members with diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
What are the symptoms?
At first, your blood sugar level may rise so slowly that you may not know that anything is wrong. One-third of all people who have diabetes do not know that they have the disease.
If you do have symptoms of type 2 diabetes, they may include:
Feeling thirsty.
Having to urinate more than usual.
Feeling more hungry than usual.
Losing weight without trying to.
Feeling tired.
Feeling cranky.
You may find out that you have type 2 diabetes during a regular medical checkup or during an appointment for another health problem such as high blood preasure, an infection, or a wound that heals slowly. Some people do not find out they have diabetes until they have a complication from the disease, such as vision problems, kidney disease, nerve disease, or heart and blood vessel problems.
How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
If your doctor thinks that you have type 2 diabetes, he or she will ask you questions about your medical history, do a physical exam, and order a blood glucose test. A blood glucose test is a blood test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood. The test is usually done first thing in the morning, before you eat or drink anything.
How is it treated?
Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes eating more foods that are good for you, getting regular exercise, checking your blood sugar levels, and possibly taking medicines. You will also visit your doctor regularly to make sure your treatment is working and that you are not having more serious health problems.
Can type 2 diabetes be prevented?
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes or if you have a condition called prediabetes—when your blood sugar levels are above normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes—you may be able to prevent or delay the disease by exercising regularly and changing the way you eat. Often, people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight and not physically active. By losing as few as 10 or 20 pounds.
Symptoms
At first, your blood sugar level may rise so slowly that you may not know that anything is wrong. One-third of all people who have diabetes do not know that they have the disease.
If you do have symptoms of type 2 diabetes, they may include:
Feeling thirsty.
Having to urinate more than usual.
Feeling more hungry than usual.
Losing weight without trying to.
Feeling very tired.
Feeling cranky.
Other signs of type 2 diabetes may include:
Lots of infections and cuts and bruises that heal slowly.
Blurred vision.
Tingling or numbness in your hands or feet.
Lots of skin, gum, or bladder infections.
Vaginal yeast infections.
Some people have already developed more serious health problems by the time they are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Over time, diabetes can lead to problems with the eyes, kidneys, heart, blood vessels, and nerves. Signs of these problems may include:
Numbness, tingling, burning pain, or swelling in your feet or hands (diabetic neuropathy).
Blurred or distorted vision or seeing ; seeing large, floating red or black spots; or seeing large areas that look like floating hair, cotton fibers, or spider webs (diabetic retinopathy).
Chest pain or shortness of breath. This may be a sign of heart or blood vessel problems. , you can reduce your chances of developing diabetes.
