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Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment



Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong metabolic disorder characterized by high levels of glucose or sugar in the blood.  Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not generate sufficient insulin while Type 2 diabetes is when the cells do not respond to insulin.  This article focuses on the causes, symptoms and treatment of diabetes type 2.

About Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes type 2 is the most common type of diabetes and affects 90-95% of diabetics.  It is characterized by insulin resistance or a defective response by the cells to insulin.  In some cases, production of insulin by the pancreas may be reduced.

Glucose or blood sugar provides fuel for the cells in the body.  Insulin is responsible for transporting glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.  When insulin cannot move the glucose into the cells, glucose accumulates in the blood and can cause diabetes complications such as damage to the nerves, kidneys, cardiovascular system and vision.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by lifestyle factors and genetics.  A sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and a diet high in carbohydrates and sweets are the most common causes of diabetes 2.

Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

The usual symptoms of diabetes are increased frequency of urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger.  People who have diabetes may also lose weight for no apparent reason.

When left untreated, diabetes can result in vision damage.  Prolonged high levels of glucose in the blood can cause glucose absorption in the lens of the eye, resulting in changes in its shape leading to blurred vision.

Other symptom of diabetes are skin rashes and wounds that heal very slowly.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease with no known cure.  As such, “treatment” may be a misnomer.  A better term might be “management” of the disease.  Management focuses on keeping blood glucose levels as close as possible to normal.  If you are diagnosed with diabetes type 2, your doctor may prescribe some form of medication.  Diet and exercise are also important in controlling type 2 diabetes.

Recent studies show that type 2 diabetes can be successfully managed without the need for medications.  A healthy diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in fiber, protein, wholegrain cereals, dairy products, fruits and vegetables can keep blood sugar at normal or near-normal levels.  The right diet and exercise help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels and prevent or reduce complications of diabetes such as blindness, kidney damage, nerve damage, and heart disease.

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How Do You Get Diabetes?



People who suffer from diabetes, and even those who don’t, often wonder and ask: How do you get diabetes?  What is the cause of diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder wherein the body is unable to regulate its blood sugar level.  The hormone insulin which is secreted by the pancreas plays an important role in controlling glucose levels in the blood.  If the production of insulin is hampered or if the body becomes resistant to insulin, diabetes symptoms may appear.

Types of Diabetes

To answer the question “How do you get diabetes?”, it helps if you know what the main types of diabetes are.  Type 1 diabetes occurs when cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin, called beta cells, are destroyed and can no longer produce insulin.  Medical professionals believe that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder.

How Do You Get Diabetes?

How Do You Get Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, affecting 90-95% of diabetes sufferers.  In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas continues to produce insulin but the body develops insulin resistance and the insulin becomes less effective.

Gestational diabetes occurs in some women during pregnancy.  This condition usually self-corrects after childbirth.

Causes of Type 1 Diabetes

How do you get type 1 diabetes?

Medical experts generally believe that Type 1 diabetes is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors.  The exact cause is not known but experts think that some people inherit genes that tell the body to destroy beta cells.  An unhealthy diet and negative environmental factors can trigger the onset of the disease.

Causes of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and is characterized by insulin resistance.  It usually develops later in life, although these days diabetic sufferers are getting younger and younger.

Genetics also plays a role in Type 2 diabetes.  If you have a family member with the condition, you may also develop diabetes.  Age may also be a factor – people who are over 40 years old are more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Other probable causes of type 2 diabetes include obesity, an unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise.

Causes of Gestational Diabetes

There is no clear answer to the question: How do you get gestational diabetes?  This conditional can happen to some women during pregnancy.  It is believed that hereditary genes as well as hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes.

How Do You Prevent Diabetes?

Diabetes may be difficult to avoid and prevent if you are genetically predisposed to the condition, but studies show that a healthy diet, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight can greatly reduce the chances of developing the disease.

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Type 1 Diabetes – Symptoms and Treatment



Type 1 Diabetes is a life-long condition wherein a person’s blood sugar is chronically at abnormally high levels.  The condition affects the body’s ability to use glucose in the blood for energy.  Two types of diabetes are recognized: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.  In this article, you will learn about the symptoms and treatment of Diabetes 1.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes can surface at any age but it is most often diagnosed in kids, teenagers, or young adults.  For this reason, it was formerly known as juvenile diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes – Symptoms and Treatment

Type 1 Diabetes – Symptoms and Treatment

People with Type 1 diabetes produce very little or no insulin. In contrast, those with Type 2 diabetes produce insulin but the body cannot use it adequately.  Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas.  Its role is to transfer blood sugar into the cells to provide energy.  Those with diabetes 1 have damaged beta cells, thus hampering insulin production.  With little or no insulin, glucose accumulates in the blood to excessive levels.

The cause of diabetes 1 is not fully understood but many medical experts believe it can be an autoimmune disorder.  Type 1 diabetes is often hereditary.

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes

The first signs of type 1 diabetes are:

  • Constantly feeling very thirsty
  • Feeling hungry
  • Feeling tired or fatigued throughout the day
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Increased frequency of urination
  • Blurry eyesight
  • Tingling feeling or loss of feeling in your feet

 

Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis

If you experience diabetes symptoms, you should consult a doctor without delay.  The following blood tests are used in the diagnosis of diabetes: Fasting Blood Sugar, Random or Nonfasting Blood Glucose Level, Oral Glucose Tolerance Test, and Hemoglobin A1c Test.  For example, you may have diabetes if your Fasting Blood Sugar is higher than 126 mg/dL, or if your Random Blood Sugar level is higher than 200 mg/dL.

Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

If you have diabetes 1 you must watch your diet and physical activity.  You must learn how to control your blood sugar.  Home blood sugar monitoring is often necessary to manage your condition.

People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin everyday to move the glucose from the bloodstream and into the cells.  Usually, insulin is injected under the skin.  An alternative method makes use of a pump that continuously delivers measured amounts of insulin.

Different types of insulin are available and they differ in how quickly they start to work and how long they remain effective.  By reviewing the results of your blood tests, your doctor will be able to recommend the best type of insulin for you, and at what time during the day to use it.  You will also need to know how to adjust the amount of insulin you are taking when exercising, traveling, eating more or less food, or when you are sick.

Managing type 1 diabetes is very important to prevent complications from the disorder such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and vision problems.

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