Considered one of the most deadly and highly preventable conditions plaguing American citizens, type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. If an individual is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes they are unable to breakdown foods, starches to help them produce glucose, which is a necessary function for the body to survive.



Diagnosing Diabetes

Individuals who may be suffering from type 2 diabetes may show the following signs and symptoms such as the following:

* extreme hunger

* increased thirst

* frequent urination

* weight lost

* fatigue

* blurred vision

* slow-healing sores

* frequent infections

If an individual is concerned about developing type 2 diabetes, it may be advisable to contact a physician who will likely administer a random blood sugar test or fasting blood sugar test. A random blood sugar test is, according to the Mayo Clinic, is when an individual's blood is taken regardless of when their last meal occurred.

A fasting blood sugar test occurs only when a patient has abstained from eating for several hours, usually overnight. It is also likely that if a patient is found positive for diabetes following one of these tests, they will also undergo more specific testing to determine whether they suffer from type 1 or type 2 of the condition.

Treatments of Diabetes 2

Treating type 2 diabetes can often be considered a lifelong commitment, but it will be one that provides a healthy outcome for a patient of diabetes. It is important that a type 2 diabetes patient monitors the following to ensure their blood sugar levels stay in check:

* watching blood sugar within food

* remaining physically active

* if an individual comes down with a cold their blood sugar may spike and blood sugar should be monitored closely during an illness

avoiding alcohol, as it may either raise or lower an individual's blood sugar

* during periods of stress and, for women, during periods of stress can cause fluctuations within the blood sugar level

In addition to managing blood sugar levels, other treatments exist including receiving insulin pumps, transplantation as well as receiving prescribed diabetic medications.

Dangers of Some Type 2 Diabetes Medications

While there are an array of type 2 diabetes treatments, there are several medications that are becoming increasingly dangerous and may actually cause more harm than good. For example, Byetta (exenatide), from Amilyn Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, is an injectable form of insulin that was approved for market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005.

Among the side effects of this drug include hemorrhagic pancreatitis, necrotizing pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis.

The condition known as pancreatitis is a serious condition that occurs when the pancreas attempts to destroy itself and becomes extremely inflammed. If left untreated, the pancreas becomes porous and will need to be surgically operated on to improve.

Patients of Byetta should consider discussing the potential Byetta side effects with their physician as the risks are severe and use of Byetta might need to be discontinued. It also is advisable to discuss the Byetta dangers with a knowledgeable pharmaceutical attorney who can provide insightful details as to how to develop a Byetta lawsuit to receive monetary compensation for the damages that may have developed as a result of consuming Byetta.

Copyright (c) 2008 Katie Kelley