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Type 2 Diabetes - Topic Overview
Is this topic for you?
This topic has general information about type 2 diabetes for people who do not have the disease. If you want to learn how to manage type 2 diabetes, one of the following topics may meet your needs:
- Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed, if you have been told recently that you have type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease, if you have type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 Diabetes in Children, if your child has type 2 diabetes.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Living With Complications, if you have eye, kidney, heart, nerve, or blood vessel disease caused by your diabetes.
If you are looking for information about type 1 diabetes, see the topic Type 1 Diabetes.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a
lifelong disease that happens when the cells of the body can't use insulin the
right way or when the
pancreas 
can't make enough insulin. Insulin lets blood
sugar—also called glucose—enter the body’s cells to be used for energy. When
insulin is not able to do its job, the cells can't get the sugar they need, and
too much sugar builds up in the blood. Over time, this extra sugar in the blood
can damage your eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.
More and more adults and children are getting type 2 diabetes. This is largely because of bad eating habits and a lack of physical activity. It is important to know if you or your children are at risk for type 2 diabetes and to know what you can do to help prevent the disease.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
You can get type 2 diabetes if:
- Your body does not respond as it should to insulin. This makes it hard for your cells to get sugar from the blood for energy. This is called insulin resistance.
- Your pancreas does not make enough insulin.
Your weight, how active you are, and your family history all affect the way your body responds to insulin. If you are overweight, get little or no exercise, or have family members with diabetes, you have a greater chance of getting type 2 diabetes.
What are the symptoms?
Some people don't have symptoms, especially when diabetes is diagnosed early. This is because the blood sugar level may rise so slowly that a person may not know that anything is wrong. Other people may have symptoms, such as:
- Being very thirsty.
- Urinating a lot.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Having blurry vision.
- Feeling hungrier or more tired than usual.
Sometimes a person finds out during a regular medical checkup that he or she has type 2 diabetes. Or people may find out that they have the disease during an appointment for another health problem such as high blood pressure, an infection, or a wound that heals slowly. Some people don't find out that they have diabetes until they have a complication from the disease, such as vision problems, kidney disease, nerve disease, or heart and blood vessel problems.
How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
If your doctor thinks that you have type 2 diabetes, he or she will ask you questions about your medical history, do a physical exam, and order a blood test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood.
How is it treated?
The key to treating type 2 diabetes is controlling blood sugar levels. All of the following help to lower blood sugar:
- Eating healthy foods
- Losing weight, if you are overweight
- Getting regular exercise
- In some cases, taking medicines
Treatment for diabetes also includes checking blood sugar levels to make sure that the disease is under control. It is important to watch for signs of high and low blood sugar. Both can cause problems and need to be treated.
People with diabetes need regular checkups to make sure that the treatment is working and that they do not get more serious health problems.
Can type 2 diabetes be prevented?
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes or if you have prediabetes, you may prevent diabetes by getting regular exercise and paying attention to what and how much you eat. If you are overweight, losing a little weight (10 to 20 pounds) can go a long way toward preventing or delaying the disease.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 19, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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