Diabetes

What is the type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a disorder that disrupts the way your body processes sugar.

Your body processes sugar with the help of a hormone called insulin. If there is not enough insulin, or if the body stops responding to insulin, or both, sugar does not get processed and builds up in the blood.

Symptoms of type 2 Diabetes

Sometimes no symptoms
Need to urinate often
Intense thirst
Blurry vision

Untreated diabetes can lead to:

Diabetic coma, which can be deadly
Heart attacks
Strokes
Kidney problem
Vision problems (or even blindness)
Pain or loss of feeling in the hands and feet, leading to wounds
Delayed wound healing, if worse enough, would need to have fingers, toes, or affected body parts amputated

How do I know if I have type 2 diabetes ?

Blood work

How is the type 2 diabetes treated ?

Some people need to take pills that help the body make more insulin or help insulin process sugars. Others need insulin shots. You will also need to check your blood sugar regularly at home, frequency is per your healthcare provider.

What else can I do to manage my diabetes ?

Being active
Losing weight
Eating right
Quit smoking
Get routine foot exams
Get routine eye exams

Can type 2 diabetes be prevented ?

Yes, it can. The most important thing to do is to control your weight. Losing weight can improve your health and blood sugar control if you already have diabetes.