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An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of type 2 diabetes. The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common in U.S. kids and teens, especially in those who are overweight. Some studies report that between 8% and 45% of children who've been newly diagnosed with diabetes have the form known as type 2, depending on geographic location and racial/ethnic group. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually. Most people with the disease are overweight at the time of diagnosis. However, type 2 diabetes can also develop in those who are thin, especially the elderly.
Family history and genetics play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.
Blood glucose levels
Blood glucose levels are mainly kept in check by insulin. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs as the result of a combination of problems with insulin activity (insulin resistance) and insulin secretion. Diet and exercise can help to combat both of these problems.
Type 2 diabetes symptoms may be mild and almost invisible, or easy to confuse with signs of aging. That's why it is very important to know how to spot them. Know type 2 diabetes symptoms and you may save your life.
The most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes are increased thirst or hunger, weight loss, fatigue, increased urination, blurred vision, sores that do not heal by themselves, bad circulation, irritability, leg pain and dry mouth.
Fatigue. If your cells are deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable.
Blurred vision. If your blood sugar level is too high, fluid may be pulled from your tissues - including the lenses of your eyes. This may affect your ability to focus.
Chest pain or shortness of breath. This may be a sign of heart or blood vessel problems.
Slow-healing sores or frequent infections. Type 2 diabetes affects your ability to heal and fight infections. Bladder and vaginal infections can be a particular problem for women.
Some people who have type 2 diabetes have patches of dark, velvety skin in the folds and creases of their bodies - usually in the armpits and neck. This condition, called acanthosis nigricans, is a sign of insulin resistance.
Risk factors for developing type 2 Diabetes
* age (over 45 years old)
* obesity (the number of people with diabetes in an unhealthy weight range is double that found in the population without diabetes)
Prevention
Regular physical activity and weight control are often crucial components of therapy for type 2 diabetes but oral medications and/or insulin injections may be required. If you're experiencing any of the type 2 diabetes symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider immediately for medical evaluation.
Diabetes type 2 also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease which appears when the insulin produced by the pancreas can not reduce the blood level of glucose. Sometimes diabetes appears when insulin is not produced in a sufficient quantity by the pancreas. The role of insulin is to take the glucose from the blood and lead it inside the body cells which use it to produce energy. If the level of glucose is too high in blood it will be eliminated by the kidneys in urine.
Diabetes type 1 is known to occur during childhood and was named as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The pancreas is not able to produce the insulin any more as the cells responsible to this process have been destroyed by the body. These patients require insulin injections permanently.
Diabetes type 2 occurs mostly during adulthood and is found in 90% of the diabetic patients. In this case the insulin is not produced in sufficient quantities or it is not effective on the body cells. This type of diabetes occurs mostly in obese people and in those who have high levels of cholesterol in blood. Elder people can get affected of this type of diabetes too.
There is another type of diabetes called the gestational diabetes which sometimes occurs in women who are pregnant.
Genetics and family history also have an important role in determining whether diabetes type 2 will install or not. Also, having a sedentary lifestyle, eating junk food will only increase the risk of developing this affection.
Some other risk factors are: the age over 45, high blood pressure, HDL less than 35 mg/dl, triglycerides more than 250 mg/dl and a previous history of personal impaired glucose tolerance.
Most of the diabetes type 2 cases do not present any symptoms at all. In some cases increased thirst, appetite and urination might occur along with blurred vision, fatigue, infections, and erectile dysfunctions.
Diagnosing diabetes is made after the doctor sees the results of some tests. He will ask for fasting blood glucose level (it has to be higher than 126 mg/dl in order for the patient to have diabetes); non-fasting blood glucose level which leads to a suspicion of diabetes if higher than 200 mg/dl and along with symptoms of increased thirst, urination, and fatigue; and positive oral glucose tolerance test (if found higher than 200 mg/dl after 2 hours).
The treatment of diabetes focuses on eliminating the symptoms and keeping the blood glucose levels under control.
At first the doctor will recommend the patient to exercise daily and to keep a diet. Also, monitoring regularly the level of glucose in blood is essential for further treatment measures. If weight is being reduced type 2 diabetes can be managed quite easily along with keeping a diet and exercising. The doctor will help the patient to test his level of glucose in blood by its own; will let him know what he is allowed to eat and what he must avoid; will advise him what to do when he feels sick and will tell him where he can procure his diabetes supplies.
Testing the level of glucose in blood can be done by the patient without the doctor's help. These tests are usually done before meals and at bedtime. The patient will monitor its level of glucose in blood with the help of a glucometer. This device shows quickly the results, in about 30 seconds. All the patient needs to do is prick his finger with a small needle attached to the glucometer and a drop of blood will appear on the finger. This drop of blood will be then placed on the glucometer's test strip and the results will appear in no time. By keeping a record of the values obtained in several days by the glucometer the doctor will be able to set a more adequate treatment scheme for the patient.
Keeping a diet is very important along with exercising as it can help the overweight patient reach a satisfying weight and reduce the glucose level in blood in this way. The diet will be also set by the doctor and a nutritionist who will choose healthy foods for the patient, in adequate amounts, and will also set a schedule for taking meals.
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