Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic disease that is characterized by the body's inability to react properly to insulin. Either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells in the body ignore the insulin. By the body not dealing with the insulin properly it results in high blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is becoming an increasing problem with children and teens in the United States, especially the one's that are overweight. Excess fat and inactivity make it hard for the cells to respond properly to insulin. In most cases children with type 2 diabetes use exercise, diet and medications to keep it under control. It is believed that genetics are also involved in developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes can also cause long term complications including heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. Type 2 Diabetes differs from type 1 diabetes. With type 1 diabetes your body does not produce insulin at all.

1. Also known as Adult-Onset or Noninsulin-Dependent Diabetes
2. Most common form of diabetes
3. 90-95% of all diabetes cases
4. Glucose level may be abnormal for years without causing symptoms
5. Affects 20.8 million in US
6. Usually diagnosed in adults over age 40
7. Anyone 45 or older should be tested
8. Often preventable
9. Prevention: Eat a health diet, exercise, avoid obesity, quit smoking, avoid alcohol
10. Symptoms: fatigue, thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, slow healing sores, frequent infections
11. Risk factors: obesity, inactivity, family history, gestational diabetes
12. Risk increases with age
13. African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians and Asian Americans have increased risk
14. Sometimes medications are needed for treatment

Disclaimer: The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have Type 2 Diabetes, please consult your doctor.

• ADA: Diabetes News
• Topix: Diabetes News
• The New York Times: Diabetes News
• ABC News: A Surgical Cure for Diabetes? (April 13, 2008)
• HealthDay: Diabetics Face Doubled Risk of Heart Attack (March 31, 2008)
  • "The increased risk was observed in people at all ages with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes who were receiving insulin or other drugs to reduce levels of sugar in the blood," Schramm said. "When people with diabetes do have heart attacks, they are twice as likely to die as non-diabetics."
• HealthDay: Self-Management Program Helps Diabetics (March 16, 2008)
• HealthDay: Minorities, Poor Have Tougher Time Monitoring Diabetes (March 14, 2008)
• WebMD: Study Questions Diabetes Threshold (February 29, 2008)
• HealthDay: Overweight Hispanic Kids Show Early Markers for Diabetes (February 27, 2008)
• HealthDay: Current Blood Sugar Control Test Results 'Inaccurate' (February 22, 2008)
• The New York Times: Diabetes Health Goes Beyond Blood Sugar (February 8, 2008)
• HealthDay: Dogs Could Be a Diabetic's Best Friend (February 3, 2008)
• HealthDay: Diabetes Rates Continue to Soar (January 28, 2008)
• HealthDay: Gastric Lap-Band Surgery Can Send Diabetes Into Remission (January 22, 2008)
• The New York Times: Diabetes Study Favors Surgery to Treat Obese (January 23, 2008)
  • Weight-loss surgery works much better than standard medical therapy as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes in obese people, the first study to compare the two approaches has found.
• ScienceDaily: Type 2 Diabetes Explosion Predicted (January 11, 2008)
• HealthDay: Lack of Deep Sleep Raises Diabetes Risk (January 3, 2008)
• HealthDay: Aerobic, Weight Training Combo Best Against Diabetes (September 17, 2007)
• HealthDay: Treating Diabetes During Pregnancy Could Lead to Thinner Kids (August 28, 2007)
• HealthDay: Sugary Sodas High in Diabetes-Linked Compound (August 24, 2007)
• The New York Times: Looking Past Blood Sugar to Survive With Diabetes (August 20, 2007)