Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, is a chronic disease that can be prevented or managed through lifestyle choices and medication. Lack of exercise and excess weight are contributing factors, and symptoms can develop slowly. Diagnosis involves a blood sugar test, and patients should work with doctors and dietitians to manage the disease and avoid complications.
Type 2 diabetes is the term that is now most commonly used to describe the disease formerly known as adult-onset diabetes. This chronic disease is also sometimes called non-insulin-dependent diabetes. While there is no cure for adult-onset diabetes, it can be prevented or managed through careful lifestyle choices and medications.
Insulin is a hormone that the body uses to regulate blood sugar levels. When a person eats, the pancreas releases insulin to deal with the rise in blood sugar levels. As blood sugar levels drop, the pancreas decreases its secretion of insulin. Type 2 diabetes means that a person is unable to produce adequate amounts of insulin. It could also mean that a person’s body becomes more resistant to the effects of insulin.
The exact cause of adult-onset diabetes is unknown. Two main factors appear to contribute to the development of the disease. Lack of adequate exercise and excess weight, especially abdominal fat, can increase your chances of developing the condition.
Other factors that can predispose a person to developing diabetes include age, because type 2 diabetes is more common in adults over 45. A family history of adult-onset diabetes may also be a factor. Another risk is prediabetes, which means that a person’s blood sugar is abnormally high, but not high enough to indicate true diabetes. Prediabetes can progress to adult-onset diabetes, particularly when it is left untreated.
A person can have diabetes for years without knowing it, as symptoms can develop slowly. Some of the typical symptoms of type 2 diabetes include fatigue, weight loss and blurry vision. A person may also notice that they are more hungry and thirsty than usual. Other possible symptoms are frequent urination, patches of darker skin, and frequent infections.
To diagnose adult-onset diabetes, a doctor may perform a blood sugar test on the patient. A fasting blood glucose test requires the patient to fast overnight, after which the doctor will take a blood sample and test it. Blood sugar levels below 100 mg/dl are normal values. If your fasting blood sugar is between 100 and 125 mg/dl, this indicates prediabetes. A patient can be diagnosed with diabetes if their blood sugar level is 126 mg/dL or higher in two separate tests.
Diabetic patients should work with doctors and dietitians to develop a healthy eating plan and exercise program. Some patients may be able to control their disease through these healthy lifestyle changes and by losing excess weight. Other patients may need medication.
Blood sugar levels should be closely monitored before and after eating, as well as before engaging in physical activity. Complications can occur if patients are unable to control their blood sugar levels adequately. Diabetic complications can include nerve damage, which can lead to incontinence, as well as kidney damage. Patients may also experience eye damage, hearing problems, and osteoporosis or bone loss. By carefully managing their disease with the proper treatment, patients can avoid these complications.
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