Type 2 Diabetes
Know About Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a life-long disease marked
by high levels of sugar in the blood. It occurs when the body does not
respond correctly to insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas. It is
the most common form of diabetes.
Type 2
diabetes, formerly called adult-onset or non insulin-dependent diabetes,
is the most common form of diabetes. One can develop this disease at any
age. It usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which
fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. Insulin
resistance means that insulin produced by your pancreas cannot get
inside fat and muscle cells to produce energy.
In this disease,
pancreas gradually lose the ability to secrete enough insulin in
response to meals. Overweight and inactive people have more chances of
developing type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes taking diabetes
medicines, making wise food choices, exercising regularly, taking
aspirin daily (for some), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Increased
thirst, increased hunger, fatigue, increased urination and weight loss
are some common symptoms. Blurry vision or heart trouble may be a result
of this disease. Type 2 diabetes is usually a gradual process.
Exercising
regularly, reducing fat and calorie intake, and losing a little weight
can help reduce risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Lowering blood
pressure and cholesterol levels also helps one stay healthy.
Although
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) greatly contribute to this disease. Other risk factors include
race/ ethnicity, age greater than 45, impaired glucose tolerance, high
blood pressure and history of gestational diabetes.
Treatment starts with efforts to stabilize blood glucose level
followed by exercise and diet. The ongoing goals are to prevent
long-term complications and prolong your life. A patient must learn
basic diabetes management skills. These skills include- testing blood
sugar level, recognizing abnormality in it, and taking proper medicine
and diet. Regular self-testing of your blood sugar tells you how well is
your combination of diet, exercise, and medication is working. A device
called a glucometer can provide an exact blood sugar reading.
When diet and exercise do not help maintain normal or near-normal
blood glucose levels, medicines could be taken. Oral sulfonylureas,
Biguanides (Metformin), Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (such as acarbose)
and Thiazolidinediones are some commonly used medicines.