Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (die-uh-BEE-tees) is a disorder in which your body can't make use of the insulin it manufactures. Unlike type 1 diabetes, it's not usually the quantity of insulin being produced, but the quality, which causes problems. The end result, however, is similar: sugar can't be used as fuel in the cells, and instead, concentrates in the bloodstream, where it can lead to various complications. Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form, accounting for more than 90 percent of all cases. It typically appears in adults over age 40, and is especially common after 55. Most adults with type 2 diabetes are also overweight. Other risk factors are a family history of the disease, or being Native American, African-American, or Hispanic. The warning signs, while not unlike those of type 1 diabetes, are usually less extreme. They include fatigue; spontaneously losing weight; needing to urinate often, particularly at night; constant thirst; an increased number of infections; and wounds that take a long time to heal. If you have this type of diabetes, you may not need insulin injections. Often, a combination of weight loss, exercise, diet, and oral medicine may be successful in treating your condition. However, as you age, insulin may be required as well. For more information about type 2 diabetes, speak to a doctor in your area.