The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2, and one-third of them have not been diagnosed. This form of diabetes usually develops in adults age 40 and older and is most common in adults over age 55. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Type 2 diabetes is often part of a metabolic syndrome that includes obesity, elevated blood pressure, and high levels of blood lipids. Unfortunately, as more children become overweight, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in young people.
When type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the pancreas is usually producing enough insulin, but, for unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin effectively, a condition called insulin resistance. After several years, insulin production decreases. The result is the same as for type 1 diabetes--glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient use of its main source of fuel.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. They are not as sudden in onset as in type 1 diabetes. Some people have no symptoms. Symptoms may include fatigue or nausea, frequent urination, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores.
Treatment of type 2 diabetes: Treatment typically includes diet control, exercise, home blood glucose testing, and in some cases, oral medication and/or insulin. Approximately 40% of people with type 2 diabetes require insulin injections.
Physicians Bust Myths About Insulin
People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes often resist taking insulin because they fear gaining weight, developing low blood sugar and seeing their quality of life decline. A study recently completed suggests that those fears are largely unfounded.
What You Need to Know About Physical Activity and Diabetes
When you take care of your diabetes, you'll feel better. You'll reduce your risk for problems with your kidneys, eyes, nerves, feet and legs, and teeth. You'll also lower your risk for a heart attack or a stroke. Among other things, you can take care of your diabetes by being physically active. Learn how easy it is!
Diabetic Neuropathies: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes
Reviews the causes and symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and reviews the different types of neuropathies: peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal neuropathies.
How Are Insulin Resistance, Pre-Diabetes, And Type 2 Diabetes Linked?
When the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body is unable to use the insulin that is present, the cells cannot use glucose. Excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, setting the stage for diabetes.
Diagnosis of Diabetic Neuropathy
Neuropathy is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms and a physical exam. During the exam, the doctor may check blood pressure and heart rate, muscle strength, reflexes, and sensitivity to position, vibration, temperature, or a light touch.
I Have Diabetes: What Should I Eat?
You can help control your blood sugar, also called blood glucose, and diabetes when you eat healthy, get enough exercise, and stay at a healthy weight. Find out more about eating and diabetes.
On the Horizon of Glucose Monitoring: A Review
Doctors recommend that diabetics who take insulin check their blood glucose levels four times a day. But piercing a nerve-rich fingertip and squeezing out a drop of blood onto a test strip is painful, and often deters people from checking any more than just once.
Inflammation: A New Link to Disease
One of the current "hot topics" in health research is how a certain kind of inflammation might affect our risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even cancer.
Weight and Type 2 Diabetes
Carrying extra body weight and body fat go hand and hand with the development of type 2 diabetes. Managing your weight is the best thing you can do to prevent the development of diabetes.
Lifestyle Choices, Diabetes and Your Heart
Lifestyle choices, including eating a healthy diet and regular physical activity, are important for maintaining a healthy heart. For people with diabetes, these lifestyle choices are even more important.
Diabetes and African American Women
Among African American women, Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions; age 20 years or older, the rate is 11.8 percent. About 1 in 4 black women over the age of 55 years of age has diabetes, nearly twice the rate of white women.
Tips to Control and Maintain Blood Sugar for Life
Taking control of diabetes has many benefits. Keeping your blood sugar (also called blood glucose) levels in the normal range can make a big difference now and in the future.
