What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Diabetes means your blood glucose (blood sugar), levels are too high. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In the United States, Canada, and Europe, about 90 percent of all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose remains in your blood. Over a long period of time, high blood glucose levels can lead to serious issues with your eyes, heart, nerves, kidneys, and gums and teeth.

You are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you:

• are age 45 or older
• are overweight/obese
• are physically inactive
• have a parent, brother, or sister with diabetes
• have high blood pressure or high cholesterol—blood fat
• have abnormal levels of HDL, or good, cholesterol or triglycerides—another type of blood fat
• had gestational diabetes—diabetes that develops only during pregnancy—or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pound
• have prediabetes—meaning your blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be labeled as diabetes
• are African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander American

What are some symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes appear gradually. With some people, symptoms go completely unnoticed. The symptoms may include:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Increased hunger or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Having wounds or sores that heal slowly
• Experiencing blurry eyesight

Managing your Type 2 Diabetes     

There is a test known as an A1C, which can help you check up on how well you are managing your diabetes. Many people are able to manage their diabetes through healthy lifestyle choices like; maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and blood glucose testing. Some people also need to take diabetes medicines.

Diabetes Treatment Options

Where can you get more information about Type 2 Diabetes?

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists – Lilly Diabetes Emergency Checklist
www.empoweryourhealth.org/diabetes-emergency-plan

American Diabetes Association®
www.diabetes.org

Centers for Diabetes Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/diabetes

dLife®
www.dLife.com

International Diabetes Federation
www.idf.org

Joslin Diabetes Center
www.joslin.org

National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)
www.ndep.nih.gov

References:

BASS III, P. F. (2016). Taking control of type 2 diabetes. Contemporary Pediatrics, 33(4), 21-26 5p.

Blair, Meg. 2016. “Diabetes Mellitus Review.” Urologic Nursing 36, no. 1: 27-36 10p. CINAHL Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed April 27, 2016).

Diabetes Type 2: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2016, from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetestype2.html

Facts About Type 2. (2013, August 1). Retrieved May 11, 2016, from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/facts-about-type-2.html

Hill, J. (2015). Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes & Primary Care, 17(5), 252-261 10p.