Type 2 diabetes, previously called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops when there’s a problem in the way the body makes or uses insulin, which is a hormone released by the pancreas. (In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces no insulin; in type 2 diabetes, the body produces or uses insulin inadequately.) Insulin is needed to move glucose (blood sugar) into the body’s fat and muscle cells, where it’s used for energy. When glucose doesn’t get into the cells, it can not be used for energy. Too much glucose remains, building up in the blood and leading to type 2 diabetes. Control of blood sugar levels is needed to prevent the disease’s potential and serious complications, which include heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and blindness.
Symptoms
While people with type 2 diabetes frequently have no symptoms at all, some symptoms that can occur are:
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Increased appetite
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Frequent or slow-healing infections
- Erectile dysfunction
Risk Factors
Family history and genetics play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes can also develop in those who are thin, especially the elderly. Though type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually and typically develops after the age of 40, its incidence is rising among young people. Experts are studying the possible cause, thinking it might be related to the higher rates of obesity and sedentary lifestyles among young people in the U.S. About 80 percent of those with type 2 diabetes are overweight. While type 2 diabetes is more common among people who are older, sedentary or obese, or with a family history of the disease, it can reappear in women who had gestational diabetes (developed and experienced during pregnancy). It is also particularly common among people of Asian, Hispanic, African or Native American ancestry.
Prevention
Everyone over age 45 should have their blood glucose levels checked at least every three years. Regular testing of random blood glucose should begin at a younger age and be performed more often if you are at particular risk for diabetes. Maintain a healthy body weight and keep an active lifestyle to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Treatment
Even though there’s no cure for diabetes, proper treatment and glucose control can enable people with type 2 diabetes to live normal, productive lives. Treatment differs at various stages of the disease. In its early stages, many people can control their blood glucose levels by losing weight, eating properly and exercising. Many might subsequently need oral medication, and others might eventually need insulin shots to prevent serious complications.