| Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 | | | | or even greater than adequate amounts of insulin to |
| diabetes produce insulin; however, the insulin their | | | | insulin deficiency, as the insulin-producing cells in the |
| pancreas secretes is either not enough or the body is | | | | pancreas “burn out.” This is why type 2 |
| unable to recognize the insulin and use it properly. This | | | | diabetics have blood sugar levels that become more |
| is called insulin-resistance. When there isn't enough | | | | difficult to control, and require increasing medication |
| insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose | | | | with time. |
| (sugar) can't get into the body's cells. When glucose | | | | The symptoms of diabetes |
| builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the | | | | When a person with type II diabetes develops high |
| body's cells are not able to function properly. | | | | blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), they may |
| THE CAUSES OF DIABETES TYPE 2 | | | | experience symptoms such as excessive thirst, |
| The exact mechanism that causes the disease is not | | | | frequent urination, increased appetite, weight loss, |
| known. There may be an autoimmune response to | | | | blurred vision, fatigue, headaches, occasional muscle |
| insulin or to the molecules on the cell surfaces that the | | | | cramps and poor wound healing. However, there are a |
| insulin connects to. However, these lifestyle factors | | | | lot of people with type II diabetes who do not show |
| can cause the disease: | | | | symptoms and don't even know they have it. |
| -Too high consume of sugar and fat | | | | # Increased thirst |
| -Over-weight | | | | # Increased hunger (especially after eating) |
| -Too less exercise over many years. | | | | # Dry mouth |
| Therefore diabetes type 2 can be prevented by a | | | | # Frequent urination |
| right diet and with regular exercise. | | | | Treatment |
| The primary cause of Type 2 diabetes is insulin | | | | For both types of diabetes, treatment is generally |
| resistance. If blood sugar (glucose) cannot be properly | | | | emphasized over curing the disease; as to date there |
| absorbed by the body’s cells because of insulin | | | | are no universal cures available for diabetes. However, |
| resistance, it builds up in the bloodstream instead (high | | | | with certain changes in lifestyle, it is possible to control |
| blood sugar levels), leading to potentially more serious | | | | diabetes outbreaks. In fact, treating diabetes is |
| health problems. Insulin resistance plays a major role in | | | | extremely important for a variety of reasons; not least |
| the development, continuation, and complications | | | | of which is that there are many other illnesses that are |
| associated with Type 2 diabetes. | | | | linked to diabetes, such as like heart disease, kidney |
| People with type 2 diabetes have cells that don't | | | | disease and foot and eye problems. |
| respond effectively to insulin. As a result of this inability | | | | When a person is first diagnosed with diabetes, the |
| to use insulin, glucose in the bloodstream goes unused, | | | | doctor’s goal is to lower the glycemic index or the |
| and can build to dangerous levels. This insulin | | | | blood glucose level as this can have ill effect on other |
| resistance is pronounced in people with type 2 | | | | body parts. This can be achieved by adhering to a |
| diabetes who are overweight or obese. Over time, | | | | diabetes diet, getting regular exercise and maintaining a |
| type 2 diabetics may progress from having adequate | | | | healthy body weight. |