Type 2
diabetes is a serious disease. It happens when your blood levels of glucose, a form of sugar, are too high. Type 2 diabetes can lead to dangerous health problems. The good news is that high glucose levels can be managed to help control type 2 diabetes and prevent or delay future problems.
Understanding Glucose and Insulin
Our bodies change the foods we eat into glucose. Glucose travels through the bloodstream to "fuel," or feed, our cells.
Insulin is a hormone that helps our bodies use glucose for energy. People with diabetes do not make insulin, do not use insulin properly, or both. This means they have too much glucose (sugar) in their blood. As a result, they often feel tired, hungry, or thirsty; they may lose weight, urinate often, or have trouble with their eyes. In time, the high levels of this form of sugar in the blood can damage their eyes, kidneys, and nerves. It can also cause
heart disease,
strokes, and even the need to remove all or part of a limb.
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes tends to run in families, but other factors can add to the risk of getting diabetes
(see
Diabetes Risk Factors). For example, being overweight and underactive can sometimes trigger diabetes in people who are at risk. A considerable amount of research is being done to study what causes diabetes and how to best manage this condition. While more
diabetes research must be done, we do know that careful control of blood glucose,
blood pressure, and
cholesterol can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and its complications.
There are two main
types of diabetes. In one form of
diabetes, people must take
insulin every day. This is called
type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is often first seen in children, teenagers, or adults under age 30.
The second form of diabetes happens when the body produces insulin but doesn't use it in the right way. This is called type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes. It is most common in people over the age of 40. Type 2 diabetes is linked to:
- Obesity
- Lack of activity
- Family history of diabetes
- Family background.
African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at high risk for type 2 diabetes.
There is also a condition called
pre-diabetes in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. This condition raises the risk of:
Health Concerns Related to Type 2 Diabetes
Blood glucose levels that are either very high or very low can lead to serious medical problems, even emergencies. In addition to the health problems noted above, people with type 2 diabetes can go into a coma (become unconscious) if their blood glucose levels get too high. Low blood glucose (called hypoglycemia) can also cause problems if it's untreated. Usually, hypoglycemia is mild and can easily be treated by eating or drinking something high in carbohydrates, such as:
- Bread
- Fruit
- Potatoes
- Milk.
Left untreated, however, hypoglycemia can lead to a loss of consciousness. Although hypoglycemia can occur suddenly, it can usually be treated quickly, bringing the person's blood glucose level back to normal.
Researchers recently have found that people with type 2 diabetes also have an increased risk for
Alzheimer's disease. Studies are under way to understand this connection and to see whether strict control of glucose can delay or prevent this problem.
Often, people with type 2
diabetes have few or no symptoms of the disease. Many people with type 2 diabetes don't even know they have it. For some people, feeling run down is their only type 2
diabetes symptom, which is so general that the diabetes may go unnoticed. Other people with type 2 diabetes may:
- Feel thirsty
- Urinate often
- Lose weight
- Get skin infections
- Have blurred vision
- Heal slowly from cuts and bruises.
It is important to tell your doctor right away if you experience any of these possible symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
If you are experiencing diabetes symptoms, medical tests can confirm if type 2 diabetes is causing your problems. A doctor can make a type 2 diabetes diagnosis by reviewing your symptoms and checking your blood glucose levels.
One test, called a fasting plasma glucose test, measures your blood glucose level after not eating or drinking (fasting) for at least 8 hours -- usually overnight. In another test, called the oral glucose tolerance test, your blood glucose is checked and then you drink a sugary beverage. Your blood glucose levels are then checked 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours later. A diabetes diagnosis is confirmed after a repeat test on a different day.
Managing Your Type 2 Diabetes
There are several things you can do to help manage type 2
diabetes:
- Meal planning and eating correctly are key components to managing blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. To plan meals and eat right, you need to understand how different foods affect your glucose levels. A good meal plan will take into account your food preferences, goals for weight control, and daily physical activity. Healthcare professionals can work with you to create a personalized meal plan.
- Physical activity is important in dealing with type 2 diabetes. Taking part in a regular fitness program can improve blood glucose levels in older people with type 2 diabetes. A healthcare professional can help plan a physical activity program that is right for you.
- Medications are also central to controlling type 2 diabetes for many people. Doctors may prescribe oral medicines (those taken by mouth), insulin, or a combination of both, as needed. People with type 2 diabetes may not need to take diabetes medications if they can reach glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol goals through meal planning, eating the right foods, and physical activity.
- Keeping track of how well your type 2 diabetes care plan is working is important. Check your blood glucose levels, and monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Eye exams. People with type 2 diabetes should have an eye exam every year. Finding and treating eye problems early can help prevent more serious conditions later on.
- Kidney check. A yearly urine test for a protein called albumin will show whether your kidneys are affected by type 2 diabetes.
- Foot care. Type 2 diabetes can reduce blood supply to arms and legs, and cause numbness in the feet. People with diabetes should check their feet every day and watch for any redness or patches of heat. Sores, blisters, breaks in the skin, infections, or build-up of calluses should be checked right away by a doctor specializing in diabetic foot care (a podiatrist) or a family doctor.
- Skin care. People with type 2 diabetes can protect their skin by keeping it clean, using skin softeners to treat dryness, and taking care of minor cuts and bruises to prevent infections and other problems (see Diabetic Skin Care).
- Care of teeth and gums. Working closely with a dentist is also important. Teeth and gums need special attention to avoid serious infections.
- Flu shots and pneumonia vaccine. Getting a yearly flu shot and a pneumonia vaccine at least once will help keep people with type 2 diabetes healthy. If 5 years or more have passed since your last pneumonia shot, ask your doctor if you should be revaccinated.
Statistics on Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2
diabetes is more common in older people, especially in people who are overweight, and it occurs more often in:
- African Americans
- American Indians
- Hispanic Americans
- Some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islander Americans.
On average, non-Hispanic African Americans are 1.6 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of the same age. Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age. American Indians have one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world.
On average, American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.2 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age.
Although prevalence data for diabetes among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is limited, some groups (such as Native Hawaiians and Japanese and Filipino residents of Hawaii aged 20 or older) are about twice as likely to have diabetes as white residents of Hawaii of similar age.
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