Type 2
Diabetes
| Statistics
of type 2 diabetes: > Of the
nearly 16 million Americans with diabetes, 90-95 percent (15.3 million) have type 2
diabetes. Of these, half are unaware they have the disease.
> People with type 2 diabetes often develop the
disease after age 45, but are not aware they have diabetes until severe symptoms occur, or
they are treated for one of its serious complications.
> The risk for type 2 diabetes increases with
age. Nearly 18.4 percent of the United States population between 65 and 74 years of age
has diabetes.
> Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent among these
populations:
- African-Americans
- Hispanic Americans
- Native Americans
> Type 2 diabetes is nearing epidemic
proportions, due to an increased number of older Americans, and a greater prevalence of
obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Sources: National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Disorders and American Diabetes Association |
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from the
body's inability to make enough, or to properly use, insulin. It used to be called
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
Without enough insulin, the body cannot move blood sugar into the cells.
It is a chronic disease that has no known cure. It is the most common type of diabetes,
accounting for 90-95 percent of diabetes cases.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
The exact cause of type 2 diabetes is unknown. However,
there does appear to be a genetic factor which causes it to run in families. And, although
a person can inherit a tendency to develop type 2 diabetes, it usually takes another
factor, such as obesity, to bring on the disease.
Prevention or delay of onset of type 2 diabetes:
Type 2 diabetes may be prevented or delayed by following a
program to eliminate or reduce risk factors -- particularly losing weight and increasing
exercise. Information gathered by the Diabetes Prevention Program, sponsored by the
National Institutes of Health and the American Diabetes Association, continues to study
this possibility.
What are the signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
The following are the most common symptoms for type 2 diabetes, however, each individual
may experience symptoms differently.
Diabetes may have a variety of signs and symptoms, including:
- frequent infections that are not easily healed
- frequent urination
- extreme hunger but loss of weight
- unusual thirst
- blurred vision
- extreme weakness and tiredness
- irritability and mood changes
- nausea and vomiting
- high levels of sugar in the blood when tested
- high levels of sugar in the urine when tested
- dry, itchy skin
- tingling or loss of feeling in the hands or feet
Some people who have type 2 diabetes exhibit no symptoms. Symptoms may
be mild and almost unnoticeable, or easy to confuse with signs of aging. Half of all
Americans who have diabetes do not know it.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may resemble other conditions or medical problems.
Consult your physician for a diagnosis.
| What
is a risk factor? A risk factor is
anything that may increase a person’s chance of developing a disease. It may be an
activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases,
including cancers, have different risk factors.
Although these factors can increase a person’s
risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. Some people with one or more risk factors
never develop the disease, while others develop disease and have no known risk factors.
But, knowing your risk factors to any disease can
help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being
clinically monitored for the disease. |
What are the risk factors for type 2
diabetes?
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
- age - people over the age of 45 are at higher risk
- family history of diabetes
- being a member of certain racial and ethnic groups, such as
African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans
- history of gestational diabetes, or giving birth to a baby that
weighed more than 9 pounds
- a low level HDL (high density lipoprotein -- the "good
cholesterol")
- a high triglyceride level
Treatment for type 2 diabetes:
Specific treatment will be determined by your physician(s) based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
The goal of treatment is to keep blood-sugar levels as close to normal
as possible. Emphasis is on control of blood sugar (glucose) by monitoring the
levels, regular physical activity, meal planning, and routine health care. Treatment of
diabetes is an ongoing process of management and education that includes not only the
person with diabetes, but also health care professionals and family members.
Often type 2 diabetes can be controlled through losing weight, improved
nutrition, and exercise alone, but sometimes these are not enough and either oral
medications and/or insulin must be used. Treatment often includes:
- proper diet
- weight control
- an appropriate exercise program
- proper hygiene
- in some cases, insulin replacement therapy (under the direction of a physician)
Untreated or inappropriately-treated diabetes can cause problems with
the kidneys, legs, feet, eyes, heart, nerves, and blood flow, which could lead to kidney
failure, gangrene, amputation, blindness, or stroke. For these reasons, it is important to
be on a strict treatment plan.
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