Type 2 Diabetes 101: An Overview

In terms of diabetes, there are 3 main forms of it: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes only occurs in pregnant women, and usually goes away after they deliver. Type 1 diabetes is often considered more serious, but you are typically born with it. Type 2 diabetes is unique in that your lifestyle and diet choices can cause it, but not always. Here are some things to know about this form of diabetes.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a form of diabetes that causes you to have extremely high blood sugar (glucose) levels. This typically occurs because your body is not using insulin in the right way, which leads to insulin resistance. This can cause a lot of other health problems as a result, including raising your blood sugar levels to a dangerous level. This is the most common type of diabetes, but also one of the easiest to manage. Some people are even able to combat diabetes with the right lifestyle changes.

What Are the Risk Factors?

While anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, there are certain groups of people that are at a higher risk for getting it. This doesn’t necessarily mean you will get it, but that you are a high risk and should monitor your diet and blood sugar levels more closely. For example, it tends to be more common among Asian Americans, Latinos, African Americans, and Native Americans. It is also more common with people who are older. Being obese and/or following a highly processed and high sugar diet can also lead to diabetes, as well as having it run in your family.

How do You Know You Have it?

The only for sure way to find out you have type 2 diabetes is by talking to your doctor, but there are also some signs and symptoms to look out for. Some of the more common symptoms of this form of diabetes are weight loss, a change in your appetite, especially increased hunger, and increased thirst with more frequent urination. Some people also notice their vision is blurry, they are more fatigued, or have areas on their skin that appear darker than others.

What Are the Treatment Options?

It can be scary when you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but don’t worry; it is manageable for the majority of people. The important thing to remember is that the better you are at managing your diabetes, the less likely you are to deal with the complications that are often scary to think about. Treatment involves monitoring your blood sugar levels, taking medication and doing insulin therapy possible, and following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

