(Diabetes Type 2)

In this condition factsheet:

• The facts on Type 2 Diabetes


• Causes of Type 2 Diabetes


• Symptoms and Complications of Type 2 Diabetes


• Diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes


• Treating and Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

The Facts on Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot properly store and use fuel for energy. The body's main fuel is a form of sugar called glucose, which comes from food (after it has been broken down). Glucose enters the blood and is used by cells for energy. To use glucose, the body needs a hormone called insulin that's made by the pancreas. Insulin is important because it allows glucose to leave the blood and enter the body's cells.

Diabetes develops when the body can't make any or enough insulin, and/or when it can't properly use the insulin it makes. For some people with diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin. In these cases, insulin is still produced, but the body does not respond to the effects of insulin as it should. This is called insulin resistance. Whether from not enough insulin or the inability to use insulin properly, the result is high levels of glucose in the blood, or hyperglycemia.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. About 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It used to be called adult onset diabetes, however, more and more children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes due to the rise in obesity.

Some people do not have diabetes but have higher-than-normal blood glucose levels. This is called prediabetes. This is more common in adults over the age of 65. Many people with prediabetes will eventually develop type 2 diabetes, but they can potentially delay or prevent this by making lifestyle changes.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin and/or the body does not use it properly. No one knows the exact cause of type 2 diabetes, but it's more likely to occur in people who:

• are over 40 years of age
• are overweight
• have a family history of diabetes
• are smokers
• developed gestational diabetes during a pregnancy
• have high blood pressure
• have high cholesterol
• have a sedentary lifestyle
• have polycystic ovary syndrome
• have IGT or impaired fasting glucose
• are of Indigenous, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian, or South African descent

Symptoms and Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes may not have symptoms for years or decades, but as the disease progresses and blood sugar levels rise, symptoms develop. People with type 2 diabetes may have the following signs and symptoms:

• frequent need to urinate
• increased thirst and hunger
• blurred sight
• decreased sensation or numbness in the hands and feet
• dry, itchy skin
• frequent bladder and vaginal infections
• male impotence (erectile dysfunction)
• slow healing of cuts or sores
• tiredness

Unfortunately, many people with type 2 diabetes go undiagnosed for several years and are not diagnosed until they go to the doctor with symptoms or complications of diabetes.

High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) can lead to a condition called glucose toxicity. This leads to further damage to the pancreas, and the body is less able to produce insulin. Without insulin, glucose levels continue to rise to levels that can cause damage to organs such as the eyes, nerves, and kidneys. These problems are similar to the complications associated with type 1 diabetes.

People with diabetes are at greater risk for problems that involve damage to small blood vessels and nerves due to high levels of glucose in the blood. They are also at a greater risk of developing hardening of large arteries (atherosclerosis), which can result in a heart attack, stroke, or poor blood flow to the legs.

Damage to small blood vessels can affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Damage to eyes, specifically the retina, is called diabetic retinopathy and is the leading cause of blindness. Damage to the kidneys, called diabetic nephropathy, can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis. Damage to the nerves that supply the legs and arms and gastrointestinal tract is called diabetic neuropathy. Some people with diabetes who develop peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves in the legs) and have poor blood flow to the legs may eventually need an amputation.

If blood glucose levels become very high, especially when there are other stresses such as an infection, people with type 2 diabetes may become confused, dizzy, and have seizures. This can lead to a condition called non-ketonic hyperglycemia-hyperosmolar coma and requires immediate medical attention.

Fortunately, the complications of diabetes can be prevented, delayed, or slowed by controlling blood glucose levels to as close to the normal range as possible.