Type 2 Diabetes – Symptoms and Causes
Understanding Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body struggles to use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels. This condition was previously known as adult-onset diabetes.
The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that helps sugar enter cells. In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t respond well to it, taking in less sugar than they should.
High blood sugar can damage several body systems over time:
- Eyes
- Kidneys
- Nerves
- Heart
While type 2 diabetes typically affects older adults, it can develop at any age. The rising rates of childhood obesity have unfortunately led to more young people developing this condition.
Management options:
- Weight loss
- Healthy eating habits
- Regular exercise
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough to control blood sugar levels, healthcare providers may recommend diabetes medications or insulin therapy. Although there’s no cure for type 2 diabetes, proper management can help people live healthy lives with the condition.
Signs to Look For
Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly. Many people have it for years without knowing. Some common signs include:
- Feeling more thirsty than usual
- Going to the bathroom more often
- Feeling hungrier than normal
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling tired all the time
- Having blurry vision
- Wounds that take longer to heal
- Getting infections more often
- Feeling numbness or tingling in hands or feet
- Dark patches of skin, especially in the neck and armpit areas
When You Should Talk to a Doctor
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to make an appointment with your doctor. Early detection can help prevent serious complications. Don’t wait for multiple symptoms to appear before seeking medical advice.
What Causes Type 2 Diabetes
How Insulin Functions in the Body
Insulin plays a crucial role in managing blood sugar levels. This hormone comes from the pancreas, a gland located behind the stomach.
The process works in a specific way. When you eat food containing sugar, your blood sugar rises. This signals your pancreas to release insulin into your bloodstream.
The insulin then helps move sugar from your blood into your cells, where it’s used for energy.
As sugar leaves your bloodstream and enters your cells, your blood sugar level drops. Your pancreas responds by reducing insulin production. This cycle helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels throughout the day.
In type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond properly to insulin. This means sugar can’t enter the cells effectively, and instead builds up in the blood.
How Glucose Affects Your Body
Glucose is a type of sugar that provides essential energy for your muscles and other tissues. Your body gets glucose from two main sources:
- Food you eat
- Your liver
When working correctly, glucose travels through your bloodstream and enters your cells with insulin’s help. Your body carefully manages this process to maintain proper energy levels.
Your liver acts as a glucose storage and production center:
- It stores excess glucose as glycogen
- It creates new glucose when levels are low
- It releases stored glucose when needed
In people with type 2 diabetes, this system breaks down. Instead of moving into cells, glucose remains in the bloodstream.
The pancreas tries to compensate by making more insulin, but eventually, the insulin-producing cells become damaged. This damage prevents the pancreas from making enough insulin to meet the body’s needs.
Type 2 diabetes typically develops from a combination of factors. Being overweight and not getting enough physical activity are two important risk factors.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chance of developing type 2 diabetes:
Weight Issues
- Extra body weight, especially obesity
- Fat distribution around the waist (more than 40 inches for men or 35 inches for women)
Lifestyle Factors
- Lack of physical activity and sitting too much
- Physical activity helps your body use glucose and improves insulin use
Genetic and Demographic Factors
- Having parents or siblings with type 2 diabetes
- Being over age 35 (risk continues to increase with age)
- Belonging to certain racial or ethnic groups (Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander populations have higher risks)
Health Conditions
- Prediabetes (higher-than-normal blood sugar that’s not yet diabetes)
- Abnormal blood fat levels (low HDL “good” cholesterol or high triglycerides)
- Polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes irregular periods and other symptoms
Pregnancy-Related Factors
- History of gestational diabetes during pregnancy
- Having delivered a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
Your risk increases with each additional factor you have. For example, someone who is overweight, inactive, and has a family history of diabetes faces a higher risk than someone with just one of these factors.
Complications
Type 2 diabetes can affect many major organs in the body. Managing blood sugar levels is important to reduce the risk of serious health problems.
Heart and Blood Vessel Problems
People with diabetes have a higher chance of developing heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis, a condition where blood vessels narrow.
Nerve Damage
Peripheral Neuropathy – Elevated blood sugar can harm nerves in the arms and legs, causing:
- Tingling or numbness
- Burning sensations
- Pain
- Loss of feeling
This damage typically starts at the fingertips or toes and moves upward.
Other nerve effects include:
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Digestive problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
- Erectile dysfunction in men
Kidney Problems
Diabetes can cause kidney disease that may progress to kidney failure. Advanced cases might require:
- Dialysis (mechanical filtering of blood)
- Kidney transplant
Eye Complications
Diabetes increases the risk of:
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy (damage to blood vessels in the retina)
Without proper care, these conditions can lead to vision loss or blindness.
Skin Issues
People with diabetes face a higher risk of skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections that can be difficult to treat.
Poor Healing
Minor cuts and blisters can develop into serious infections due to poor blood circulation. In severe cases, this may lead to amputation of toes, feet, or legs.
Additional Health Risks
| Complication | Description |
|---|---|
| Hearing Loss | People with diabetes have higher rates of hearing impairment |
| Sleep Apnea | Obstructive sleep apnea is common, often related to obesity |
| Dementia | Diabetes appears to increase risk of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia |
Poor blood sugar control is associated with faster decline in memory and thinking skills. The same factors that increase diabetes risk often raise the risk of other serious health conditions.
Ways to Prevent Diabetes
You can take steps to avoid type 2 diabetes. Making healthy changes may slow or stop prediabetes from becoming diabetes.
Try these healthy habits:
Eat better foods – Choose items with less fat and calories, but more fiber. Add more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your meals.
Stay active – Do at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week. You could walk briskly, ride a bike, jog, or swim.
Reduce weight – If you weigh too much, losing some pounds helps. For those with prediabetes, dropping 7โ10% of their body weight might lower their risk.
Move regularly – Sitting too long raises your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. So, stand up every half hour and move around for a few minutes.
Some people with prediabetes might need medication. Doctors sometimes prescribe metformin to help lower blood sugar levels. This option works best for older obese adults who cannot control their blood sugar through lifestyle changes alone.
