Diabetes is a disease that causes you to have too. much sugar (glucose) in your blood. diabetes, you will have it for the rest of your. life. …
WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES?
Diabetes is a disease that causes you to have too much sugar glucose in your blood Normally, your digestive system breaks down the food you eat into glucose Your blood carries the glucose to your bodys cells where a hormone called insulin, which is made in the pancreas, helps glucose enter the cells so it can be converted into energy When you have type 2 diabetes, glucose builds up in your blood because cells do not use insulin effectively this is known as insulin resistance, which prevents glucose from entering the cells Eventually, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas wear out This results in your cells becoming starved for energy1,2 The buildup of large amounts of glucose in the blood is called hyperglycemia Without proper treatment, hyperglycemia may eventually cause nerve and blood vessel damage, which can lead to health conditions such as2-4: Heart and blood vessel cardiovascular disease that increases your risk for heart attack and stroke
Eye problems that could result in blindness Kidney disease Numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and feet, digestive problems, sexual problems, loss of bladder control, and other problems caused by
impaired nerve function Skin problems such as itching, infections, blisters, and raised, scaly, or discolored spots Nerve and blood vessel damage in the feet that can lead to injury, infection, or open sores ulcers
Generalized damage to and blockage of blood vessels Peripheral vascular disease, which can lead to gangrene tissue death and surgical removal amputation of the affected body part Diabetes can be managed, and its complications may be prevented, but it can not be cured Once you develop type 2 diabetes, you will have it for the rest of your life
Where Can I Find More Information?
You can get more information about type 1 diabetes from the following sources: American Diabetes Association Telephone: 1-800-DIABETES 1-800-342-2383 Home page: wwwdiabetesorg National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Telephone: 18008608747 Home page: wwwdiabetesniddknihgov
References 1 Isley WE Diabetes mellitus, type2 [e-Medicine Web site] June 30, 2006 Available at: http://wwwemedicinecom/med/ topic547htm Accessed September 18, 2006 2 Skyler JS, Hirsch IB Diabetes mellitus In Noble J, ed Textbook of Primary Care Medicine 3rd ed St Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:821-842 3 American Diabetes
Association All about diabetes Available at: http://wwwdiabetesorg/about-diabetesjsp Accessed August 4, 2006 4 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Diagnosis of diabetes [National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Web site] January 2005 Available at: http://diabetesniddknihgov/dm/pubs/ diagnosis/ Accessed August 30, 2006 5 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Diabetes Overview Bethesda, Md: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; 2006 NIH publication 06-3873 6 Rao SS, Disraeli P, McGregor T Impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose American Family Physician 2004;69:1961-1968 7 Lamb WH Diabetes mellitus, type 1 [e-Medicine Web site] June 27, 2006 Available at: http://www emedicinecom/ped/topic581htm Accessed August 10, 2006
TYPE 2 DIABETES
Type 2 diabetes typically affects adults over 40 years of age who are overweight However, increasing numbers of younger people– including children and adolescents–are developing type 2 diabetes This is likely due to the fact that more and more young people are overweight and do not get enough exercise1,2 Family history and ethnic background are risk factors for type 2
diabetes If you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes, your risk for the condition is increased High-risk ethnic groups include African Americans, American Indians, some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanics/ Latinos5 Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes Other forms that you may have heard of include type 1 and gestational diabetes Type 1 diabetes develops when the pancreas makes little or no insulin All people with type 1 diabetes require insulin therapy to stay alive Gestational diabetes develops in some women during the late stages of pregnancy This type of diabetes usually goes away after a woman delivers her baby2 However, women who have gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life4
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What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Resistance to insulin that results in failure of glucose to enter cells is main cause of type
2 diabetes This is an inherited genetic condition1,2 The onset of type 2 diabetes occurs when a person who carries these genetic defects becomes overweight, usually by eating a high-fat diet and not getting enough exercise1,2 Type 2 diabetes also may be caused by the use of certain medications or medical conditions that prevent insulin from converting glucose to energy1
Fasting plasma glucose test This test measures the amount of glucose in your blood after you have fasted had nothing to eat for at least 8 hours
How Is Type 2 Diabetes Treated?
A normal fasting plasma glucose level is 99 mg/ dL or less A fasting plasma glucose level of 100-125 mg/ dL indicates impaired fasting glucose, a prediabetic condition that increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke1,5,6 A fasting plasma glucose level of 126 mg/dL or above indicates diabetes A second fasting plasma glucose test must be repeated on another day to confirm the diagnosis
What Are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?
The goal of treatment for type 2 diabetes is to gain and maintain control over your blood glucose level, cholesterol le 
vel, and blood pressure in order to prevent or reduce the
severity of diabetes-related health problems2,5 Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled through weight loss achieved by eating less and exercising more At some point, you may need to start taking diabetes pills, insulin, or both to control your blood sugar If your cholesterol level and blood pressure cannot be kept in a healthy range through diet and exercise, you may have to take medications to achieve those goals2,6 Your doctor may recommend that you check your blood glucose levels at home using a glucose monitor, especially if you take diabetes pills or insulin or have a hard time keeping your blood sugar levels in control Home monitoring will tell you whether your blood glucose level is within your target range at the time you do the test Keeping a log of your daily test results will help you recognize patterns of change in blood sugar levels that occur throughout the day and can be useful in making changes to your treatment plan3 In addition to the everyday routine you will establish to control your diabetes, you will also have to take special care of yourself when you are sick Infections that cause colds and flu can make it hard for you to keep your blood sugar level within
your target range Unless you are very careful, your blood glucose levels may become extremely high, which can lead to excessive water loss dehydration, loss of consciousness coma, and possibly death Your doctor may prescribe additional medications to protect your heart and kidneys and will recommend careful monitoring of your blood pressure High blood pressure hypertension in combination with diabetes can lead to serious health problems that may be lifethreatening Your chance of long-term success in managing diabetes will be better if you work in partnership with a team of health care professionals that may include your primary care doctor, a certified diabetes educator, a registered
dietitian, and other medical specialists2,7 These people will give you ongoing, individualized instruction on diabetes management; monitor how well your treatment plan is working; and care for you if you develop any problems
What Can I Do to Maintain My Health?
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes usually develop gradually if at all over a period of years Most people dont know they have type 2 diabetes until it is diagnosed by chance during a routine medical check-up When symptoms do appear, they may include
the following1,2,5: Increased urination
Extreme thirst and hunger Unexplained weight loss Slow healing of wounds and sores Tiredness fatigue Blurred vision Pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet Frequent yeast infections
Oral glucose tolerance test For this test, you must fast for at least 8 hours, and then you drink a beverage that contains 75 grams of glucose After a 2-hour wait, your plasma glucose level will be measured
A normal 2-hour plasma glucose level is 139 mg/dL or below A 2-hour plasma glucose level of 140-199 mg/dL indicates impaired glucose tolerance, a pre-diabetic condition that increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke1,5,6 A 2-hour plasma glucose level of 200 or above indicates diabetes A second oral glucose tolerance test must be performed on another day to confirm the diagnosis
Managing diabetes requires a number of lifestyle changes–such as losing weight and quitting smoking–that you might find difficult to make It is very important that you communicate with members of your health care team if you are having trouble following any part of your treatment plan Your health care team can provide the
support you need to make your plan work, but if they dont know you are having trouble, they wont be able to help you In addition to sticking with your treatment plan, regular medical and dental checkups are an important part of keeping healthy Most people with type 2 diabetes see their doctor 2 to 4 times a year for a physical exam, lab tests, and to determine whether their treatment plan needs any fine tuning3 At least twice a year, your doctor may perform a hemoglobin A1C test This test shows what your average blood glucose level has been over the past 3 months The results of the test will give you and your health care team an idea of how well your diabetes management plan is working3 You should have an eye exam at least once a year to check for signs of diabetic eye disease and visit your dentist twice a year for dental exams and cleanings3 You also need to check your feet regularly to look for sores or infections that do not heal You may need to see a foot doctor podiatrist or other medical specialists to prevent or treat complications of diabetes
How Is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?
Routine screening for diabetes is now a part of regular health check-ups The process of
diagnosing type 2 diabetes usually starts with a complete physical exam Your doctor will discuss with you any symptoms you are experiencing, your current and past health history, and whether you have any close relatives who have diabetes A certain diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can only be made by determining that you have high blood glucose levels hyperglycemia2 Blood glucose levels are measured in milligrams mg per deciliter dL of blood plasma There are 3 blood tests that can be used to determine your blood glucose level2,4
Random plasma glucose test This is a measurement of your blood glucose level that can take place any time of the day, regardless of when you last ate a meal
A diagnosis of diabetes is confirmed if you have classic symptoms of diabetes, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, and unexplained weight loss, and your blood glucose level is equal to or greater than 200 mg/dL A second random plasma glucose test must be performed on another day to confirm the diagnosis
Source:state.il.us
