What Is Type II Diabetes?

Type II diabetes is the most common form of diabetes found all over the world. Approximately, 95 % of the diabetics are found to fall into this category. It usually starts developing after a certain age (around 40 and older) and is also common in those who are obese (overweight). It occurs because of metabolic and environmental factors and may also be caused by certain health problems pre-existing for some time like high blood pressure and presence of high level of cholesterol in the body. Nowadays, the idea of eating out has taken force and has spawned a whole generation of obese kids and people who are ripe candidates for serious illnesses like diabetes.

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is caused by non-utilization of insulin produced in the Beta cells of the pancreas to breakdown complex carbohydrates, fatty acids and proteins into simple glucose molecules that can be readily absorbed in the bloodstream. In Type II diabetes, though the pancreas produce enough insulin, due to some external and metabolic factors the human body develops a kind of resistance for the insulin and thus in the long run creates a deficiency of insulin which results in diabetes.

Most of the major symptoms of Type II diabetes are the same as Type I diabetes like frequent urination, unusual thirst, hunger, sudden weight loss, weakness, extreme tiredness, blurred vision, irritability, vomiting and nausea. There is a little chance of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurring as an added complication. But, the chance of deterioration of organs, especially the cardiovascular system stands good if type II diabetes is not diagnosed in time.

Type II diabetes is characterized by three stages:

1) During the initial phase, there is a marked resistance to the insulin present in the body and this is called the Insulin resistant phase.

2) The next phase is characterized by low or non-production of insulin as the pancreatic cells start dying out and this stage is called postprandial hyperglycemia.

3) The last and final stage is the full blown diabetes and is characterized by very high sugar levels in the bloodstream. It is called fasting hyperglycemia and it stays as it is for the rest of the patient's life.


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