Type II Diabetes

Type II Diabetes

Diabetes Basics

Diabetes is a lifelong disease characterized by high levels of the sugar glucose in the blood. High blood sugar is caused by the body’s inability to make insulin or respond to insulin normally.

Glucose comes from food and is the main energy source for the body.Insulin is the hormone produced by the pancreas that is responsible for telling organs such as the liver, muscle, and fat to remove glucose from the blood. When there is not enough insulin, or these organs can’t respond to insulin, less glucose gets into cells to be stored for energy. As a result, blood glucose levels rise.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs in adulthood and represents the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually develops slowly over many years and occurs when muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to the actions of insulin. This is called insulin resistance.

High blood sugar resulting from insulin resistance initially causes the pancreas to overproduce insulin. Over time, the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to keep up with the body’s demand. Type-2 diabetics can eventually require insulin injections like type-1 diabetics.

Risk Factors

The incidence of diabetes is increasing. The main risk factors for type-2 diabetes include:

  • Obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Family history of diabetes
  • History of gestational diabetes
  • Older age
  • African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, or Native Hawaiian

What is Prediabetes?

Type 2 diabetes develops slowly over time. Before overt diabetes, individuals will display milder insulin resistance which may or may not include higher than normal levels of insulin and blood glucose. It is important to determine if you have prediabetes because changes in health habits can delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Complications of Diabetes

Many diabetics experience complications 7-10 years before diagnosis and more than 70% of diabetics develop one or more major complications.

  • Heart disease and stroke
  • Nerve disease (neuropathy)
  • Kidney disease (nephropathy, kidney failure)
  • Eye problems (retinopathy)
  • Foot infections
  • Dental problems (gum infection, periodontal disease)

For more information on diabetes:

American Diabetes Association
diabetes.org

International Diabetes Federation
idf.org

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health
diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

Diabetes Risks, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Information eMedicineHealth
eMedicineHealth.com

Division of Laboratory Sciences: Programs & Research: Diabetes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
cdc.gov/nceh/dls/diabetes

CDC’s Diabetes Program – Diabetes and Me National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC)
cdc.gov/diabetes

Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes University of Colorado Denver
uchsc.edu/misc/diabetes/

Joslin Diabetes Center Diabetes Research, Care & Education
joslin.harvard.edu