Type 2 Diabetes

Also known as: Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

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Type 2 diabetes is a chronic medical condition and the most common type of diabetes that affects the way your body processes insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by pancreas that your body needs to help glucose get from your blood into your body’s cells to produce energy. Glucose is sugar that your body gets from the food you eat.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas makes insulin, but the cells in your body are unable to absorb it properly, which causes the pancreas to produce more insulin. Eventually, the ability of your pancreas to produce insulin decreases. Because of that, your body cells do not get enough glucose and consequently, do not receive a sufficient amount of energy required for proper functioning.

Type 2 diabetes was formerly referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes because the disease was mostly diagnosed in adults and the patients usually did not need insulin injections to manage their condition. These definitions are now considered inaccurate because doctors have commonly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in children and insulin is often required to manage the disease.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are similar to those of type 1 diabetes, but they develop rather slowly and they are often mild enough to be easily disregarded for years. The symptoms include excessive hunger and thirst, fatigue, frequent urination, blurred vision, dry mouth, itchy skin, slow healing wounds, unexplained weight loss, numbness in your hands or feet, frequent infections, and dark rash around your armpits and neck.

The exact reason why human body stops processing insulin normally and becomes insulin resistant is unknown, but genes and certain risk factors may contribute to developing type 2 diabetes. Those risk factors include having little or no physical activity, being overweight or obese, having a history of heart disease or stroke, having high blood pressure, being 45 years of age or older, having a high level of triglycerides or a low level of “good” (HDL) cholesterol, having polycystic ovary syndrome, and having a history of gestational diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, which means that the longer a person has it unattended, the higher the chance that the patient will be needing insulin over time to manage blood glucose level. That is why early diagnosis is very important. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed by the following tests: Fasting blood sugar test that measures how much glucose is in your plasma and is taken after at least 8 hours of fasting; Random blood sugar (glucose) test; A1C (glycated hemoglobin) test that measures the average glucose level over the period of past 2-3 months; and Oral glucose tolerance test, which is most commonly used during pregnancy.

If you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you need to take it under control to avoid complications because otherwise the disease can affect all organs of the body. Complications may include cardiovascular diseases, nerve damage, kidney damage, poor blood circulation to your feet, retinal damage, fungal or bacterial infections, and sleep apnea.

When it comes to management of type 2 diabetes, the ideal scenario is to prevent it from happening. Although you cannot do anything about your age or genetics, a diet that is low on sugar, refined carbohydrates, and fatty meats, as well as getting regular exercise and implementing proper weight management strategy, can help you keep your blood sugar level within the healthy limits and lower your chances of getting the disease.

People with type 2 diabetes should follow the guideline for type 2 diabetes prevention as well. They also have to closely monitor their blood sugar by checking it multiple times a day and take diabetes medications or insulin therapy if they are unable to maintain proper blood sugar level with just diet and exercise. Besides, type 2 diabetes patients have to daily check their feet for sores, cuts, blisters, and swelling, have regular eye checkups, and look after their skin. It is also beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes to stay informed about advancements in diabetes treatments by participating in diabetes education programs and work with their doctors, nutritionists, and pharmacists to come up with the most optimal treatment plan.