by Aaron Chris

Created on: April 05, 2008   Last Updated: May 11, 2008

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (formerly called adult-onset diabetes), is a disorder affecting the bodies ability to properly use the insulin that it produces (insulin resistance). Insulin is the hormone that is required to bring blood sugar into your bodies cells, mostly fat and muscle cells, so it can be used as energy. Type 2 diabetes can go unnoticed for years in a patient before being diagnosed, since the symptoms are usually mild.

Prevention:

Regular exercise and proper diet are crucial elements of therapy and prevention for type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes:

Some symptoms of type 2 diabetes include, recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections, cuts and bruises that are slow to heal, itchy skin, frequent vaginal yeast infections, fatigue, drowsiness or blurred vision, increased thirst, frequent need to urinate, and tingling in the hands or feet.

Screening options:

It is recommended for many people that they have blood tests done at different stages of life, especially if they are part of a high risk group. Your doctor will recommend one of several screening options: a fasting blood glucose test, a random blood glucose test, a blood glucose test two hours after 75 g of glucose, or a glucose tolerance test. Those groups that statistically have the highest numbers of reported cases of type 2 diabetes are, the obese, those with a family history of diabetes, and high-risk ethnicity (Mestizo/Hispanic, Native American, Afro-Caribbean, Pacific Island, and South Asian ancestry). People who have been positively diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are screened yearly for complications.

Treatment options:

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a chronic (lifelong) disease that at this time can only be cured by one type of gastric bypass surgery for morbidly obese patients. The surgery involves the removal of a section of the small intestine which is believed to produce an unknown hormone that interferes with normal insulin sensitivity. Treatment of the disease is focused on maintaining the patients quality of life and their general health. Glycemic control and self-monitoring, proper diet, exercises, and patient education are all crucial parts of the treatment effort.

Complications of type 2 diabetes:

Complications that can arise out of diabetes mellitus type 2 are, heart disease and stroke, diabetic neuropathies (nerve damage), diabetic retinopathy (eye disease), erectile dysfunction, lower limb amputation,

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