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Type 2 Diabetes Introduction |
Diabetes mellitus
is the inability of the body to
utilize glucose (sugar) for energy,
because the body does not produce or
use insulin effectively.
There are two major categories of
diabetes mellitus:
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Type 1 diabetes-
(IDDM, insulin dependent diabetes
mellitus, or juvenile onset)
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Type 2 diabetes-
(NIDDM, non-insulin dependent
diabetes, or adult onset).
In type 1 diabetes
the pancreas does not produce enough
insulin, while in type 2 diabetes
the pancreas continues to secrete
insulin but cells of the body become
resistant to its effects.
Type 2 diabetes is
the most common form of diabetes,
occurring in over ninety percent of
all diabetics. It usually occurs in
people over the age of 40, and most
often in persons who are overweight. Typically,
type 2
diabetes development is gradual, and
takes place over many
years. It can also develop during
pregnancy (gestational diabetes). Gestational diabetes is often
treated with insulin and usually disappears
after childbirth. However, the patient
will remain at an increased risk for
developing type 2 diabetes later in
life.
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The cause of type
2 diabetes includes genetic,
dietary, and lifestyle factors.
Lifestyle practices, such as
overeating and lack of exercise
increase ones risk for the
development of this condition. Type 2 diabetes is most likely to
occur in people with a family
history of diabetes. 1 in 3
diabetics have a relative with the
same type of diabetes. Overweight
and obese people over the age of 45
are at increased risk in developing
type 2 diabetes. As our society
becomes increasingly overweight and
obese (64 percent of US adults are
now overweight or obese), the
prevalence of this condition will
continue to rise. |
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Type 2 diabetes
increases the risk of chronic
conditions, including; heart disease,
stroke, kidney disease, loss of
nerve function (peripheral
neuropathies ), retinopathy (a
disease of the retina) and
blindness, immune system problems
with increased susceptibility to
infections, and circulation problems
that can lead to skin ulcers, poor
wound healing, and amputation.
Persons with type 2 diabetes
often show no signs of the condition for years.
When symptoms do occur, they may
include;
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Frequent urination
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Unusual thirst and
a dry mouth
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Lack of energy and
fatigue
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Blurry vision and
dizziness
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Type 2 Diabetes Statistics |
According to the
National Center for Health
Statistics and the Centers for
Disease Control-National Diabetes
Fact Sheet (1,
2):
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Approximately 13.4
million Americans have diabetes
(6.6% of population)
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In 2001, diabetes
accounted for 71,372 deaths in the
US
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65% of deaths among
people with diabetes are due to
heart disease and stroke
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Diabetes is the 6th
leading cause of death in the US
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The total cost of
diabetes is 132 billion dollars in
the US alone
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Learn More About
Type 2 Diabetes |
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