Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes results when the body does not use enough of its own insulin, even though the pancreas (see below) is producing extra insulin. In most cases, Type 2 Diabetes is first detected in adults who are over the age of 40. About 93% of Diabetics have Type 2 Diabetes.

Although Type 2 Diabetes is more prevalent in adults over the age of 40, there is a sharp rise in Type 2 diagnoses in children and young adults. Along with the hereditary risk, obesity is a major risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. On the contrast, Type 1 Diabetes is rarely associated with obesity and is generally not hereditary.

The number one cause of death among type 2 diabetics is heart disease. As a result, tight blood sugar control as well as tight blood pressure and cholesterol control are required to improve survival with this disease. Learn more at the end of this page.

The Pancreas within the Digestive System: (just below the stomach)

The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes can be avoided-- or at least the severity of the complications can be greatly reduced. To do that, it takes education, nutrition, physical activity, medication, and most importantly will power. You have to do this for your the rest of your life.

Many people do not know that by the time a person is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the extra sugar in their blood has been attacking many different parts of their bodies for years. But the person does not feel a thing. Doctors call this asymptomatic (A-sim-toe-mat-ic)--showing no symptoms. Diabetes is called the silent killer because the symptoms are not felt for years.

Here are the basics on how sugar (glucose or fructose) causes type 2 diabetes symptoms: Let's say a person eats a lot of simple carbohydrates like lots of sugar, white bread, white rice (starches). These are foods with a very high glycemic index. These foods are quickly broken down to glucose and its very quickly enters the blood stream. Each time this happens a powerful signal is sent to the pancreas (see above) to release more insulin. Depending on what you eat one unit of starch can have from 500 to 2 Million units of glucose.

Here are the basics on how insulin works to controls blood sugar: Insulin works like a key to unlock and open the cell's door. This lets sugar (glucose) enter the cell. In Type 2 diabetes, the lock does not recognize insulin as the key. When the key(insulin) cannot unlock the doorway for glucose to enter, the glucose stays and then builds up in the blood (the cells become starved). The pancreas works even harder to make more insulin.

After years of hard work the pancreas becomes worn out. It then makes a lot less insulin. Now the body needs new insulin from injections, insulin pumps, inhalers, and patches.

Here are the basics on sugar's role in damaging the body's cells. When the glucose does not get used up by the cells, over a period of time its numbers increase in the blood stream. After more time passes, the number of sugar molecules begin to attach to the cells in the capillaries (very small blood vessels)- for example in the eye. When sugar sticks to enough cells of the capillary tube-like walls, the walls stiffen. The stiffened walls can't expand to allow enough blood to freely flow. The result is high blood pressure (hypertension) and eventually the capillary bursts in the eye causing blindness (diabetic retinopathy) .

Taking the example above; apply it to the following sytems and you will understand how they begin to fail: kidneys (nephropathy), other blood vessels (hypertension, heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy), erectile disfunction, nerves (autonomic neuropathy), and more. One or more of these complications sneak/s up on the person without them knowing for years. "The Silent Killer" - diabetes is a terrible disease. We have to fight and control it.

Primary care physcians and diabetes specialists will prescribe oral medications to help you control your blood sugar and any further complications. Click on this link for the basics on how oral medications are used to control the level of sugar in the blood.

Researchers are studying to determine exactly why obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are so closely linked. It has been proven that abdominal fat (gut fat) cells secrete a hormone (adiponectin) that prevents the body from effectively using insulin. Other studies indicate that the insulin does not take the correct pathway between cells, so the positive impact of insulin is never felt.

There is a lot more to learn to bring blood sugar in control. Learn about nutrition, physical activity, and medication as you strengthen your will power to do all you can to control your blood sugar.

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