Adult Type 2 Diabetes

29 Jul

Posted by admin as diabetes

ype 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. People who are overweight and inactive are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes taking diabetes medicines, making wise food choices, exercising regularly, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and taking aspirin daily—for some.

Individuals with Adult-Onset, Type 2, Diabetes represent 90 to 95 percent of all diabetics. An estimated 15.7 million Americans have diabetes, of which almost one-third are unaware that they have the disorder.

Both conditions are epidemic with 1 in 13 Americans and 1 in 3 of those over age 60 developing ‘adult’ diabetes. Most will develop heart, kidney, nerve and blood vessel diseases for an amazing 1/4th of total health care costs! Other countries have similar increasing rates. Later-in-life diabetes (during pregnancy being a warning) is an eventual one-way track to heart disease.

Type 2 diabetes leaves a person at danger of having elevated levels of sugar (glucose) in their blood. This high sugar content then causes damage to blood vessels, which in turn harms many organs including the eyes, nerves, kidneys and heart.

“A positive parental history of diabetes was also strongly associated with overweight status in both childhood and adulthood,” Morrison said.

Diagnosis

Diabetes is diagnosed by testing the blood for sugar levels. Blood is taken in the morning after you have fasted overnight. Typically, the body keeps blood sugar levels between 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), even after fasting. If a blood sugar level after fasting is greater than 125 mg/dL, diabetes is diagnosed.

Treatment and management

Diabetes mellitus is currently a chronic disease, without a cure, and medical emphasis must necessarily be on managing/avoiding possible short-term as well as long-term diabetes-related problems. There is an exceptionally important role for patient education, dietetic support, sensible exercise, self glucose monitoring, with the goal of keeping both short-term blood glucose levels, and long term levels as well, within acceptable bounds.