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How Does Type 2 Diabetes Develop


Treatment For Type 2 Diabetes

How type 2 diabetes develops

Type 2 diabetes can be managed, and in some cases, reversed. Most treatment plans will include checking your blood glucose levels, and your doctor will tell you how often you should do it. The goal is to stay within a specific range.

Additional lifestyle changes your doctor will most likely advise to help treat your type 2 diabetes include:

  • eating foods rich in fiber and healthy carbohydrates eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help keep your blood glucose levels steady
  • eating at regular intervals
  • learning to listen to your body and learn to stop eating when youre full
  • manage your weight and keep your heart healthy, which typically means keeping refined carbohydrates, sweets, and animal fats to a minimum
  • get about half an hour of physical activity daily to help keep your heart healthy exercise can help to control blood glucose, too.

Your doctor will explain how to recognize the early symptoms of blood sugar thats too high or too low and what to do in each situation.

Additionally, working with a dietician can help you learn which foods can help you manage your blood sugar and which ones might cause it to become unbalanced.


Not everyone with type 2 diabetes needs to use insulin. If you do, its because your pancreas isnt making enough insulin on its own, and its crucial that you take insulin as directed. There are other prescription medications that may help as well.

Monitoring Blood Glucose Levels

If you have type 2 diabetes, your GP or diabetes care team will need to take a reading of your blood glucose level about every two to six months.

This will show how stable your glucose levels have been in the recent past and how well your treatment plan is working.

The HbA1c test is used to measure blood glucose levels over the previous two to three months.

HbA1c is a form of haemoglobin, the chemical that carries oxygen in red blood cells, which also has glucose attached to it.


A high HbA1c level means that your blood glucose level has been consistently high over recent weeks, and your diabetes treatment plan may need to be changed.

Your diabetes care team can help you set a target HbA1c level to aim for. This will usually be less than 53 mmol/mol or individualised as agreed with your diabetes team.

Read more about the HbA1c test

How Does Type 2 Diabetes Progress Over Time

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, meaning that the bodys ability to regulate blood sugar decreases with time. Eventually, the bodys cells become less responsive to insulin , and cells in the pancreas produce less insulin. As the condition progresses, people typically need to start taking one or more different types of glucose-lowering medications. The good news is that there are many choices available for treatment. Careful blood sugar management early on can help slow the progression of diabetes however, using medication certainly does not mean that you have failed diabetes management.

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Prediabetes And Diabetes Prevention

A person with blood sugar levels of 100125 mg/dl will receive a diagnosis of prediabetes. This means that their blood sugar levels are high, but they do not have diabetes. Taking action at this stage can prevent diabetes from developing.

According to a 2016 report published in The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 33.6 percent of people aged 45 years and older had prediabetes in 2012.

The CDC estimate that around

Diabetes may cause a number of health complications if people do not manage it properly. Many of these are chronic, or long-term, but they can become life-threatening. Others need immediate medical attention as soon as they appear.

Evolution Of Diagnostic Criteria For Gdm

How Do You Develop Diabetes Type 2

The major feature of these criteria was that they defined a cohort of women with a greatly increased future risk of progression to type 2 diabetes, demonstrating a lifetime risk of up to 60%. The National Diabetes Data Group criteria, proposed in 1979 ,1), converted the OSullivan/Mahan criteria from whole blood to plasma values . The Carpenter-Coustan criteria, proposed in 1982, also converted the OSullivan/Mahan criteria to plasma values, but in addition, took a change in enzymatic methods into account. They soon entered widespread clinical use, and were subsequently validated for prediction of adverse perinatal outcome. Essentially, therefore, all 3 sets of criteria were intended to define a similar population.


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Is It My Fault For Getting Type 2 Diabetes

No type 2 diabetes is not a personal failing. It doesnt matter what you have done in your life until this point no one asks to be diagnosed with diabetes.

While lifestyle certainly plays a major role, family history also has a significant effect on developing type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is not simply the result of high body weight while obesity is one underlying cause of insulin resistance, many individuals with excess weight may never develop type 2 diabetes, while some people with type 2 diabetes never have excess weight.

What Should You Know About Diabetic Coma

The official name is known as a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome . this situation can cause a diabetic coma and eventually death with both types of diabetes. It occurs when the blood sugar in your system becomes too high and your body soon becomes very dehydrated. Some of the symptoms of this condition include dry, parched mouth, sleepiness, extreme thirst, hallucinations and weakness of the body.

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Does Diet And Or Lifestyle Cause Type 2 Diabetes

What has become clear as research has revealed is that, how you live your life has a huge contributory influence on whether you become diabetic or not especially as you hit the middle age territory. Im talking diet and lifestyle.

One research followed up 84,941 female nurses for 16 years. The idea was to monitor their diet and lifestyle over that 16-year period. Their diet and current lifestyle were updated as the years rolled by.

In all, 3300 cases of diabetes were diagnosed during the follow up period. Majority of the women who developed diabetes during the study period were from the overweight category. Low-risk women had a 90 percent less chance of developing diabetes.

To qualify as a low-risk participant, you have to have a BMI of less than 25, have a diet high in fiber, high in polyunsaturated fat, low in trans fat as well as have a low glycaemic diet. Low-risk also meant 30 minutes daily exercise of moderate to vigorous nature, be a non-smoker and have a moderate level of alcohol consumption habit.

To be eligible for the study, all the participants had to be disease-free at the beginning of the study. Disease-free means being free from cardiovascular problems, cancer and diabetes.


This Nurses Study identified a couple of risk factors for diabetes at least in women anyway.

The risk factors identified from the study included:

does age cause type 2 diabetes

Does age cause type 2 diabetes?

Polycystic Ovaries As A Risk Factor For Type 2 Diabetes

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes

If you run a blood test on a woman with polycystic ovaries to check her blood insulin levels, the result is most certainly going to demonstrate high blood insulin levels. What this means is women with polycystic ovaries as part of their syndrome usually have high insulin levels from being insulin resistant.

As I have discussed elsewhere on this site, insulin resistance is a precursor to the development of type 2 diabetes. So if you suffer from polycystic ovaries, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes goes through the roof.


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How Long Can You Live With Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes doesnt have to be a chronic condition. To the contrary, a type 2 diabetes diagnosis is the moment to begin changing habits and working towards a healthier and longer life. What you do every day can make a difference, says Dr. Christofides. Park at the far-end of the lot. Try taking the stairs. Consider buying only fresh foods and avoiding things in packages.

There is no one best type 2 diabetes diet. Focus on fresh, and focus on balance. Include vegetables, lean proteins , whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole fruits.

Get moving. Exercise is one of the most important things you can do for overall health, including mental well-being. Fitness is also one of the best ways to keep weight off once youve lost it.

Find activities you enjoy and try sharing those with friends and family. Exercise doesnt have to happen in the gym. Grab a friend and go for a fast walk through the neighborhood or take a hike in the park. The vitamin D will give you an extra boost of health and well-being.


How Can I Manage My Type 2 Diabetes

Managing your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and quitting smoking if you smoke, are important ways to manage your type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle changes that include planning healthy meals, limiting calories if you are overweight, and being physically active are also part of managing your diabetes. So is taking any prescribed medicines. Work with your health care team to create a diabetes care plan that works for you.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes

  • Frequent urination and extreme thirst
  • Sudden or unexpected weight loss
  • Increased hunger
  • Dark, velvety patches of skin
  • Fatigue
  • Wounds that wont heal

If you have one or more risk factor for type 2 diabetes and notice any of these signs, its a good idea to call your doctor, as you may have type 2 diabetes.

Occurrence In The United States

1 Million San Diegans Could Develop Type 2 Diabetes

A 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report estimated that in the United States, as of 2015, 30.3 million persons of all ages, or 9.4% of the population, had diabetes and 84.1 million adults had prediabetes.

Prediabetes, as defined by the American Diabetes Association, is that state in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It is presumed that most persons with prediabetes will subsequently progress to diabetes. In 2015, according to the CDC report, prediabetes was present in 23.1 million persons aged 65 years or older .


A study by Andes et al using a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicated that in the United States, prediabetes exists in approximately 1 out of 5 adolescents and 1 out of 4 young adults.

As estimated for 2015, diabetes occurred in 4.6 million adults aged 18-44 years , 14.3 million aged 45-64 years , and 12.0 million aged 65 years or older . Of those adults with diabetes, however, 7.2 million did not know or did not report that they had the disease.

In 2014, the CDC reported that about 40% of US adults will develop diabetes, primarily type 2, in their lifetime, and more than 50% of ethnic minorities will be affected. This is substantially higher than previous estimates. The central reason for the increase is obesity.

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About Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is usually a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood glucose level to become too high.


The hormone insulin produced by the pancreas is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood

There are two main types of diabetes:

  • type 1 where the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin
  • type 2 where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin

This topic is about type 2 diabetes.

Read more about type 1 diabetes

Another type of diabetes, known as gestational diabetes, occurs in some pregnant women and tends to disappear after birth.


Prognosis In Intensive Therapy

In the UKPDS, more than 5000 patients with type 2 diabetes were followed up for up to 15 years. Those in the intensely treated group had a significantly lower rate of progression of microvascular complications than did patients receiving standard care. Rates of macrovascular disease were not altered except in the metformin-monotherapy arm in obese individuals, in which the risk of myocardial infarction was significantly decreased.

In the 10-year follow-up to the UKPDS, patients in the previously intensively treated group demonstrated a continued reduction in microvascular and all-cause mortality, as well as in cardiovascular events, despite early loss of differences in glycated hemoglobin levels between the intensive-therapy and conventional-therapy groups. The total follow-up was 20 years, half while in the study and half after the study ended.

Other, shorter studies, such as Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation and the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial , showed no improvement in cardiovascular disease and death with tight control .

A British study indicated that the HbA1c level achieved 3 months after the initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus predicts subsequent mortality. In other words, according to the report, aggressive lowering of glucose after diagnosis bodes well for long-term survival.

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Heres The Thing: Your Journey Is Unique And It Starts Fresh Every Day

No matter where you are with type 2 diabetes, there are some things you should know. It’s the most common form of diabetes. Type 2 means that your body doesn’t use insulin properly. And while some people can control their blood sugar levels with healthy eating and exercise, others may need medication or insulin to manage it. Regardless, you have everything you need to fight it. Not sure where to start? Learn how type 2 diabetes is diagnosed.

Living With Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes: Understanding the Link Between Obesity & Type 2 Diabetes

Having type 2 diabetes can bring up lots of questions about your lifestyle, but were here with the answers. From nutritional advice and recipes to help you know what to eat when you have type 2 diabetes, tips about diabetes and alcohol and keeping active and staying fit were here to support you.

Weve also got more information for different age groups, such as young people and older people, as well as practical school advice for parents of children with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is also associated with other health conditions, such as thyroid disease and dental problems. Its important to be aware of these, so make sure to read our information about diabetes related conditions.

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What Medicines Do I Need To Treat My Type 2 Diabetes

Along with following your diabetes care plan, you may need diabetes medicines, which may include pills or medicines you inject under your skin, such as insulin. Over time, you may need more than one diabetes medicine to manage your blood glucose. Even if you dont take insulin, you may need it at special times, such as during pregnancy or if you are in the hospital. You also may need medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other conditions.

Learn more about medicines, insulin, and other diabetes treatments.

Frequent Thirst And Urination

The average human being should be able to urinate between 4 to 5 times each day however, victims of diabetes usually do so more often. The reason for this is not farfetched, normally the body tends to reabsorb glucose as it passes through the kidney.

However, when diabetes increases your blood sugar levels, the kidney may find it difficult to get it all back in. this leads to a situation where the body creates more urine and that means fluid loss. Peeing so much would mean you have fewer fluids in your body thus making you thirstier.

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Symptoms In Children And Teens

Type 2 diabetes is more likely to appear after the age of 45 years, but it can affect children and teens who:

  • have excess weight
  • slow healing of cuts or wounds
  • numbness or tingling in hands and feet
  • itchy skin

If caregivers notice these symptoms, they should take the child to see a doctor. These are also symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 is less common but more likely to affect children and teenagers than adults. However, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in young people than it was in the past.

Learn more here about how diabetes affects children and teens and how to spot the symptoms early.

Tingling Numbness Or Pain In The Hands Or Feet

The different steps in the development of type 2 diabetes ...

High blood sugar levels can affect blood circulation and damage the bodys nerves. In people with type 2 diabetes, this can lead to pain or a sensation of tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.

This condition is known as neuropathy, and it can worsen over time and lead to more serious complications if a person does not get treatment for their diabetes.

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What Should A Type 2 Diabetes Meal Plan Include

Ask your healthcare provider or a nutritionist to recommend a meal plan thats right for you. In general, a Type 2 diabetes meal plans should include:

  • Lean proteins: Proteins low in saturated fats include chicken, eggs and seafood. Plant-based proteins include tofu, nuts and beans.
  • Minimally processed carbohydrates: Refined carbs like white bread, pasta and potatoes can cause your blood sugar to increase quickly. Choose carbs that cause a more gradual blood sugar increase such as whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and whole-grain pasta.
  • No added salt: Too much sodium, or salt, can increase your blood pressure. Lower your sodium by avoiding processed foods like those that come in cans or packages. Choose salt-free spices and use healthy oils instead of salad dressing.
  • No added sugars: Avoid sugary foods and drinks, such as pies, cakes and soda. Choose water or unsweetened tea to drink.
  • Non-starchy vegetables: These vegetables are lower in carbohydrates, so they dont cause blood sugar spikes. Examples include broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.

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