Type 2 Diabetes

Previously known as adult onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes, type 2 diabetes is on the rise in the United States. While completely preventable, the number of cases of type 2 diabetes is climbing at an alarming rate, predominantly due to the increasing obesity epidemic.

Type 2 diabetes differs from type 1 diabetes in two ways: in the first case, the body may be able to produce the insulin required to process blood sugar, but is resistant to the effects of the insulin. In the second case the body is not resistant to insulin, however the pancreas is simply unable to produce enough insulin to effectively manage glucose or blood sugar levels.

Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes

In addition to the standard symptoms of diabetes, type 2 diabetics can have a difficult time healing, and so prolonged sores or infections, especially vaginal and bladder infections in women, can become prevalent.

Another sign of insulin resistance, acanthosis nigricans, can occur in type 2 diabetics: this condition is characterized by dark velvety patches of skin in the folds and crevices of the body.

Causes and Risk Factors

Type 2 diabetes is climbing - while it's not 100% clear why some people develop type 2 diabetes, there are established factors that increase the risk:

Weight: Obesity is an increasing problem in the United States - a very strong corollary to the increase in type 2 diabetes. The more fatty tissue in your body, the more resistance your cells develop to insulin.
Inactivity: Activity aids in using up stored glucose in the body, and makes the body more sensitive to insulin.
Family history: It has been shown the risk of type 2 diabetes increases if a sibling or parent has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Age: Type 2 risk increases as we age - especially past the age of 45. This could be due to the fact that as we age we tend to exercise less, losing muscle tissue, and making the body more resistant to insulin. However, type 2 diabetes has been climbing drastically in children and young adults, perhaps related to increased body weight and reduced activity.
Prediabetes: Prediabetes is a condition in which your blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Left untreated, prediabetes often progresses to type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes: If you developed gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later increases.

Type 2 Diabetes

Additional Resources

Partners

Organizations for a Cure