Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, which is often called adult-onset diabetes because adults account for nearly 95% of all diagnosed cases, is a chronic disease in which high insulin resistance leads to high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, is the most common form of diabetes, affecting about 25.8 million people in the United States, or about 8.3% of the population. The American Diabetes Association also estimates that there are nearly 7 million people in the United States that are undiagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the body fails to make or properly utilize insulin. In particular, an individual’s fat, liver, and muscle cells fail to adequately respond to insulin, which leads to a lack of blood sugar in these cells but a build-up of sugar in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with advanced age, obesity, physical inactivity, race/ethnicity, and a family history of diabetes. The majority of people with diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight, as more fat makes it more difficult for a body to properly process insulin. However, among the elderly, even thinner people may develop type 2 diabetes.
Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
The vast majority of people with type 2 diabetes have no signs or symptoms of the disease for many years. However, some of the first signs to appear include:
- Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
- Hunger (a sharp increase in appetite)
- Increased thirst (unquenchable thirst)
- Increased urination (a marked increase of bathroom visits)
Further, other first signs of type 2 diabetes may include blurred vision, pain, or numbness in the hands or feet, as well as erectile dysfunction in men.
Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed by measuring a patient’s blood sugar level. This can be done in one of three ways:
- Fasting blood glucose test
- Hemoglobin A1c test
- Oral glucose tolerance test
However, many doctors recommend screening tests to their patients if they meet a number of risk factors. In particular, overweight adults with a BMI greater than 25 and adults over the age of 45 are often urged to get screening tests at least every 2 to 3 years.
If you are concerned about your loved ones lifestyle and risk of type 2 diabetes, please consult their doctor as soon as possible. Type 2 diabetes is a manageable disease with proper diagnosis and treatment!
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[post_date] => 2016-09-06 14:35:37
[post_date_gmt] => 2016-09-06 18:35:37
[post_content] => Type 2 diabetes, which is often called adult-onset diabetes because adults account for nearly 95% of all diagnosed cases, is a chronic disease in which high insulin resistance leads to high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, is the most common form of diabetes, affecting about 25.8 million people in the United States, or about 8.3% of the population. The American Diabetes Association also estimates that there are nearly 7 million people in the United States that are undiagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Causes of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the body fails to make or properly utilize insulin. In particular, an individual’s fat, liver, and muscle cells fail to adequately respond to insulin, which leads to a lack of blood sugar in these cells but a build-up of sugar in the blood.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with advanced age, obesity, physical inactivity, race/ethnicity, and a family history of diabetes. The majority of people with diagnosed type 2 diabetes are overweight, as more fat makes it more difficult for a body to properly process insulin. However, among the elderly, even thinner people may develop type 2 diabetes.
Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
The vast majority of people with type 2 diabetes have no signs or symptoms of the disease for many years. However, some of the first signs to appear include:
- Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
- Hunger (a sharp increase in appetite)
- Increased thirst (unquenchable thirst)
- Increased urination (a marked increase of bathroom visits)
- Fasting blood glucose test
- Hemoglobin A1c test
- Oral glucose tolerance test