Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on February 25, 2010
Sources: © 2008 WebMD
Type 2 Diabetes: What Is It?
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Type 2 diabetes strikes people of all ages, and early symptoms are subtle. In fact, about one out of three people with type 2 diabetes don’t know they have it. Diabetes is a chronic condition that thwarts the body’s ability to change food into energy. This allows sugar levels to build up in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart disease, loss of vision, and other serious complications.
Insulin: Turning Glucose Into Energy
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1) After eating, the stomach breaks carbohydrates down into sugars, including glucose. 2) Glucose enters the bloodstream and stimulates the release of insulin from the pancreas. 3) Insulin and glucose travel in the blood to all the body’s cells. Insulin allows glucose to enter the cells and be used as fuel.
Excess glucose is stored in the liver.
Type 2 Diabetes
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In diabetes, the cells cannot absorb glucose properly. That means glucose levels in the blood become elevated. With insulin resistance, the body makes excess insulin but the muscle, liver, and fat cells do not use or respond properly to insulin. With long-standing, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes the pancreas will reduce the amount of insulin it produces.
Diabetes Warning Sign: Thirst
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One of the first symptoms of type 2 diabetes may be an increase in thirst. This is often accompanied by additional problems, including dry mouth, increased appetite, frequent urination -- sometimes as often as every hour -- and unusual weight loss or gain.
Diabetes Warning Sign: Headaches
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As blood sugar levels become more abnormal, additional symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue.
Diabetes Warning Sign: Erectile Dysfunction
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Erectile dysfunction could be a complication of diabetes. Diabetes can cause damage to blood vessels and nerve endings in the penis causing impotence. It’s estimated between 35% and 70% of men with diabetes will have at least some degree of impotence in their lifetime.
Risk Factors for Women
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Having gestational diabetes when you’re pregnant puts you at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later on. Women who give birth to a baby weighing over 9 pounds are also at risk. Having a history of polycystic ovary syndrome can also cause insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes.
Risk Factors You Can Control
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- Being overweight, defined as a body mass index (BMI) over 25.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Abnormal cholesterol and blood fats, such as HDL "good" cholesterol lower than 35 mg/dL or a triglyceride level over 250 mg/dL.
- High blood pressure greater than 140 /90 in adults.
- Smoking.
Risk Factors You Can’t Control
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- Race or ethnicity: Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, and Asians have a higher than average risk.
- Family history of diabetes: Having a parent or sibling with diabetes boosts your risk.
- Age: Being 45 and older increases your risk of type 2 diabetes.
The more risk factors you have, the greater your odds of developing type 2 diabetes.
Watch: Type 2 Diabetes - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis
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