What is the view about type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the body's ability to turn food into energy. With type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin well. Glucose, or sugar, builds up in the blood instead of being used for energy.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
The exact cause of type 2 diabetes is not known, but several factors are thought to contribute, including:
* Genetics: Type 2 diabetes tends to run in families. If you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to develop the disease.
* Weight: Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The more overweight you are, the greater your risk of developing the disease.
* Physical inactivity: People who are physically inactive are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who are active.
* Unhealthy diet: Eating a diet high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and trans fat can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. Eating a diet high in fiber and whole grains can help reduce your risk.
* Age: The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with age. People over the age of 45 are more likely to develop the disease.
* Race/ethnicity: African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Asian Americans are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than whites.
What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly, and many people do not have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Some of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:
* Feeling very thirsty
* Needing to urinate often
* Feeling very hungry
* Feeling very tired
* Blurred vision
* Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
* Skin infections
* Slow-healing sores
How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test that measures your blood sugar level. A fasting blood sugar level of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher indicates diabetes. A random blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL or higher also indicates diabetes.
How is type 2 diabetes treated?
Type 2 diabetes is treated with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Lifestyle changes that can help manage type 2 diabetes include:
* Losing weight
* Eating a healthy diet
* Getting regular exercise
* Quitting smoking
* Managing stress
Medications that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes include:
* Insulin
* Metformin (Glucophage)
* Sulfonylureas (such as glipizide and glyburide)
* Thiazolidinediones (such as pioglitazone and rosiglitazone)
* DPP-4 inhibitors (such as sitagliptin and linagliptin)
* GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as liraglutide and exenatide)
* SGLT2 inhibitors (such as empagliflozin and canagliflozin)
What are the complications of type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes can lead to a number of serious complications, including:
* Heart disease
* Stroke
* Blindness
* Kidney failure
* Nerve damage
* Amputation
How can I prevent type 2 diabetes?
There is no sure way to prevent type 2 diabetes, but you can reduce your risk of developing the disease by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as:
* Eating a healthy diet
* Getting regular exercise
* Maintaining a healthy weight
* **Quitting smoking