- MedicineNet,.com
Anyone can get type 2 diabetes. However, those at highest risk for the disease are those who are obese or overweight, women who have had gestational diabetes, people with family members who have type 2 diabetes and people who have metabolic syndrome (a cluster of problems that include high cholesterol, high triglycerides, low good 'HDL' cholesterol and a high bad 'LDL' cholesterol and high blood pressure). In addition, older people are more susceptible to developing the disease since aging makes the body less tolerant of sugars.
Although it is more common than type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is less well understood. It is likely caused by multiple factors and not a single problem.
Type 2 diabetes can run in families, but the exact nature of how it's inherited or the identity of a single genetic factor is not known.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes vary from person to person but may include:
- Increased thirst
- Increased hunger (especially after eating)
- Dry mouth
- Nausea and occasionally vomiting
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
- Blurred vision
- Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
- Frequent infections of the skin, urinary tract or vagina
If your health care provider suspects type 2 diabetes, he or she will first check for abnormalities in your blood (high blood glucose level). In addition, he may look for glucose or ketone bodies in your urine.
Tests used to diagnose type 2 diabetes include a fasting plasma glucose test or a casual plasma glucose test.
Many people with type 2 diabetes live long, healthy lives. The key to good health is keeping your blood sugar levels within your target range, which can be done with meal planning, exercise and medication which may include pills and insulin. You will also need to check your blood sugar levels regularly.
yes. This is why diabetes type one and type two are so confusing, because the symptoms are the same but the root of the problem is usually different.
ReplyDeleteYour new blog is helping to clear the mist of misunderstanding. Re diabetes.
Jeannie, I don't see any confusion. T1 is a term used for the onset of db below a certain age while T2 is the term for adult onset.
ReplyDeleteLike all the different cancers they are still when it is all boiled down, Cancer the same for Diabetes.
On another post you were most indignant about being thought a T2 and said you didn't get Diabetes because you were "overweight" do you not think T2's are also offended by that blanket statement. btw I am T2 and I didn't get it because I was "fat" Unlike T1 there are many factors involved, genetics being one. If just being overweight gave you the disease of db then every overweight person walking the planet would be diabetic. Just out of interest having a "sweet tooth" does not make one diabetic either.