When you have Type 2 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin and/or is unable to use insulin properly. This problem with insulin affects the way your body uses food.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. (The pancreas is the large gland that lies behind the stomach.) When you digest food, your body breaks down much of the food into sugar (glucose). Your blood carries the sugar to the cells of your body for energy. Insulin helps the sugar enter the cells and controls the level of sugar in your blood. When your body does not have enough insulin or has trouble properly using insulin, the cells of your body do not absorb enough sugar from your blood. As a result, you have high levels of sugar in your blood.
Type 2 diabetes occurs mostly in adults over 40, especially overweight adults. Overweight children and adolescents can also have this type of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1 diabetes. (With Type 1 diabetes the pancreas produces very little or no insulin.) Type 2 diabetes used to be called non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
How Does It Occur?
The precise cause of Type 2 diabetes is not known. However, as people become older or overweight, they are more likely to have diabetes. The pancreas may not work properly, or a person's cells may become unable to use the insulin made by the pancreas. Heredity is also an important factor.
Women who have given birth to large babies (for example, babies weighing 9 pounds or more), or have had diabetes of pregnancy, have a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life.
What Are the Symptoms?
Type 2 diabetes may cause the following symptoms:
- increased urination
- excessive thirst and the drinking of a lot of fluids
- increased appetite
- weight gain or loss
- blurred vision
- skin infections
- vaginal infections
- tiredness
- slowly healing sores
- abnormal feelings of prickling, burning, or itching of the skin, usually on the hands or feet
- infections of the foreskin in uncircumcised men.
Some people have no symptoms.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your health-care provider will ask about your symptoms and test the level of sugar in your blood. He or she may also test a sample of your urine for sugar.
How Is It Treated?
The major goal of treatment is to control the level of sugar in your blood. This is done by meal planning, exercise and medication.
Your health care provider or a dietitian will give you clear guidelines about which foods you should eat and how many calories you should eat each day. If you are overweight, the main treatment is to eat less. Limiting the calories in your diet will help you lose weight. Losing even 7 to 10 pounds can reduce or eliminate your need to take medication for diabetes.
Physical activity is important in managing Type 2 diabetes. Exercise improves your circulation and uses up more sugar in your blood. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do. Ask your health-care provider for exercise recommendations.
Your health-care provider may prescribe insulin or other types of medicine to control your blood glucose in addition to diet and exercise.
How Long Will the Effects Last?
Exercising more and not eating too much can often help the body restore its balance of sugar and insulin. You may or may not need to continue taking medication. Whether or not you take medication, your improvement depends on following the diet and exercise plans prescribed by your health-care provider.
How Can I Take Care of Myself?
- Follow your diet.
- Use a scale to weigh portions of food.
- Learn how to make healthy choices when you eat out.
- Ask for diabetic meals when you travel (for instance, at hotels or on planes).
To maintain your diet, you can:
- Drink water or other noncaloric drinks when you have the urge to eat between meals.
- Avoid compulsive eating.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Buy only the types of food included in your diet.
- Eat on a regular schedule.
- Eat only at a table.
- Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
- Learn how to do proper skin and foot care every day. Carry medicine for diarrhea when you travel. Always carry identification that says you have diabetes, in case of an emergency.
You can get pamphlets and information about diabetes, including diabetic cookbooks, from:
The American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
(800) DIABETES ([800] 342-2383)
http://www.diabetes.org
What Can Be Done to Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?
Even if there is a history of diabetes in your family, you may be able to avoid developing the disease if you maintain your recommended weight and exercise regularly.
Developed by Phyllis G. Cooper, R.N., M.N., and Clinical Reference Systems. Published by iMcKesson Clinical Reference Products. Copyright © 1991-2001 iMcKesson LLC. All rights reserved.
