Type 2 Diabetes

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Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes or Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 is a metabolic disorder, initially presenting with an elevated blood glucose level. It is the most common form of diabetes worldwide, as compared to other diabetes types, such as Type 1. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is caused by a failure in insulin production, Type 2 diabetes is associated with problems to the cells that respond to insulin. Patients of Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin normally. It is also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes as most people with this type of diabetes do not need to inject insulin. It is also still known as maturity-onset diabetes, since it occurs mostly in older adults. However, currently, more and more children are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes due to an increase in the incidence of obesity among this group so this name is becoming less appropriate.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

In many of the cases diagnosed, Type 2 diabetes is often a gradually progressive disease. It may be caused by insulin resistance or abnormal insulin secretion, namely insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas. In a non-diabetic, healthy person, the body’s cells (fat, liver and muscle) produce an insulin response, whilst in a Type 2 diabetes patient, the body’s cells do not produce a normal insulin response. The function of insulin is to induce the body’s cells to take up glucose from the blood to be used as a source of energy. Since the body’s cells are insulin resistant in the diabetic, they do not take up glucose from the blood as is normal, the result being an elevated blood glucose level or hyperglycemia. Other possible effects of insulin resistance are an increase in coronary heart disease and a rise in normal blood pressure. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity, hypertension (elevated blood pressure), a more sedate lifestyle, elevated cholesterol levels and several other metabolic disorders. It may also be caused by other hereditary and environmental factors.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

The early symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are so transient that, very often, they go unnoticed. The most common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased hunger), increased tiredness, blurred vision, weight loss (or gain), slow healing of wounds, frequent incidence of infections (due to a suppressed immune system) and numbness in the hands and feet.

Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes

Diagnosis is confirmed by reviewing the signs and symptoms, followed by a series of blood tests. Some of the routine tests include the random or non-fasting blood glucose level and fasting blood glucose level test. In general, the normal glucose level is considered to be 100 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL). If the random blood glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dL, diabetes is suspected. Diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed if the fasting blood glucose level is more than 126 mg/dL on two separate occasions. An oral glucose level test is sometimes performed to check how the body metabolises blood sugar. Diabetes is diagnosed if the blood glucose level is more than 200 mg/dL after two hours.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

The treatment of Type 2 diabetes is simple when compared to Type 1 diabetes in the initial phase. Type 2 diabetes treatment is initiated with a recommendation to increase physical activity, alter normal dietary patterns and take prescribed medication. Some patients may be recommended for insulin injections, depending upon their overall health condition, medical history and severity of the disease. Regular exercise is very important since it helps reduce insulin resistance. However, care should be taken with these patients, who inject insulin and follow a more rigorous exercise regime at the same time. Since both insulin and exercise lower the blood sugar level, there is a risk of lowering glucose level below the normal, resulting in hypoglycemia, itself associated with certain other health complications such as dizziness, nausea, weakness, etc. Other ways to avoid Type 2 diabetes include maintaining body weight, regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet(with a lower percentage of dietary fat) and regular monitoring of the blood glucose level.