According to the American Diabetes Association, the number of diagnosed cases of diabetes has been growing steadily and currently represents 10.5% of the population or 34.2 million people in the US alone.
Among the population within the age of over 20 years and older, the count of diabetes patients grows 1.6 million each year. From these figures, it is a prerequisite that more people become aware of the facts and get an understanding of this growing issue.
Diabetes mellitus is the technical term for diabetes: a complication that causes symptoms such as an increased appetite, consistent feeling of thirst, or urinating frequently. Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes in the sense that it caused by two major factors. One, it occurs when the body has an insulin resistance (pancreas produces enough insulin but the body does not respond to it well); or two, the body is not producing enough insulin in the first place. Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce enough insulin for the body, resulting from the damaged cells and brought about by the autoimmune condition.
Insulin controls the blood sugar levels of the body, and this is why a decrease in the amount of insulin present in the body causes diabetes. With this, the initial idea that people think of is that prevention of diabetes is done only by reducing the amount of sugary treats; but this is not really the case.
Preventing diabetes can be achieved with a proper exercise regimen and a healthy food intake. Controlling not just the amount of food but also the types of food that a person eats is a good way to start avoiding acquiring or aggravating the said condition. In which case, it is advised to seek for medical assistance or the opinion of a dietitian to acquire proper information about health and nutrition.
Not knowing the answers to the question what is type 2 diabetes may lead to neglecting the possibility that a person can acquire such disorder. If a person fails to recognize the symptoms and the possible consequences of diabetes, chances are, he would find it more difficult to be treated once his condition has worsened. If not given proper attention or if not treated, diabetes could lead you to lose a limb; or worse, even your life. Supplying the body with the right amount of nutrients it needs should be a primary concern of everyone. This way, it can be kept in its best condition: free from diseases, illnesses, and disorders such as diabetes. Don’t be fooled when wondering what is type 2 diabetes. Research is key, and consulting your doctor should be a top priority.
Type 2 diabetes is also known as adult-onset diabetes or NIDDM (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). It is a disorder that is characterized by blood sugar levels in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease which is the most common form of diabetes.
People who are type 2 diabetic specifically produce insulin. The problem however is that either their pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin sufficiently (insulin resistance). When insulin is inadequate or the insulin is not used, glucose cannot get inside the cells. When this happens glucose builds up in the blood (hyperglycemia) and the cells are not able to function properly. Other problems associated with the buildup of glucose in the blood include dehydration, diabetic coma and damage to other organs such as the heart and kidney.
What are the Symptoms that characterize Type 2 Diabetes?
Those suffering from this condition can have symptoms such as:
• Increased urination (polyuria)
• Increased thirst (polydipsia)
• Increased appetite (polyphagia)
• Fatigue
• weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Frequent, slow-healing infections
What are the causes of Type 2 Diabetes?
According to an American Diabetes Association survey conducted, 32% of those who took it thinks that too much sugar intake can lead to diabetes. This is myth is untrue. Type 2 diabetes is said to be caused by several factors including genetics and lifestyle:
1. Lifestyle
Several lifestyle factors are known to be important to the development of type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight like those love handles and the tummy area significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. Obesity has also been found to contribute to approximately more than half of the cases of type 2 diabetes. People who are overweight are likely to incur insulin resistance, because fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin.
2. Genetics
Family history and genetics play a vital role in type 2 diabetes. There is also a strong inheritable genetic link in type 2 diabetes. Having relatives of the first degree with type 2 increases risks of developing type 2 diabetes very substantially and is even more increasing with the number of those relatives. In addition, obesity somehow is strongly inherited. Gene expression promoted by a diet of fat and glucose as well as high levels of inflammation related cytokines found in the obese results in fewer and smaller than normal mitochondria. These people are prone to insulin resistance. Moreover, if you have type 2 diabetes, the risk of your child getting diabetes is 1:7 if you were diagnosed before the age of 50. This ratio will become and 1:13 if you were diagnosed after the age 50.If both parents have type 2 diabetes, your child’s risk is about 1:2.
3. Medical condition
Medical conditions that can lead to type 2 diabetes are hypertension, elevated cholesterol (combined hyperlipidemia), acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, thyrotoxicosis, pheochromocytoma, and chronic pancreatitis, to name a few. Testosterone deficiency can also be related with type 2 diabetes.
Knowing what is Type 2 Diabetes can help improve the worsening conditions of this disease that is now considered epic in proportion. Knowing what is type 2 diabetes also can prevent further increase of the affected population and can help awareness to the public.
