Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic lifelong disease marked by highlevels of sugar in the blood. It is responsible for approximately 90% of all diabetes cases. Type two diabetes begins when the body does not respond properly to insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the beta cells in the pancreas. Its main function is work with the glucose in the blood. Glucose is the fuel the cells and muscle tissues in the body needs to function properly. Insulin is needed to move glucose (blood sugar) into cells, where it is used for energy. If glucose does not get into the cells, the body cannot use it for energy. Too much glucose will stay in the blood, causing the symptoms of diabetes. Type two diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to use the insulin produced by the pancreas or the body not producing the quantity that is needed by the body. Type two diabetes usually occurs with obesity and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that fat, liver and muscle cells do not respond normally to insulin. As a result they do not get the sugar needed for energy. Since the cells of the body are not getting the glucose needed it is starved of energy. While the glucose level in the blood become abnormally high. This condition is called hyperglycaemia. Many people with insulin resistance have hyperglycaemia and high blood insulin levels at the same time. People who are overweight have a higher risk of insulin resistance, because fat interferes with the body's ability to use insulin. Type two diabetes usually occurs gradually. Most people with the disease are overweight at the time of diagnosis. However, diabetes can also develop in those who are slim.
Inactivity, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase the risk type two diabetes. Other risk factors include: • Age greater than 45 years • Low HDL cholesterol or high LDL (Bad) Cholesterol • High blood pressure • History of gestational diabetes • Previously identified impaired glucose tolerance by your doctor • Race/ethnicity (African Americans, African Caribbean, South Asian, Hispanic Americans, and others all have high rates of diabetes) If you are at risk it is important to get checked by your healthcare professional. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes Type2 diabetes can be detected with a blood test to measure the level of glucose in the blood. This might be a fasting glucose test, which is taken after fasting for at least eight hours but tend to be done in the morning after fasting overnight, or a random glucose test, which can be carried out at any time. You may have another type of blood sugar test called a glucose tolerance test. This measures how your blood sugar changes over time after you swallow a sugary drink. You need to fast overnight before having this test.
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