Type 2 diabetes develops in people over age 45, but more and more children, teens and young adults are also developing it.
Causes: Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into the cells in your body to use as energy. In type 2 diabetes, cells do not respond normally to insulin. Eventually your pancreas cannot keep up, and your blood sugar rises. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
Symptoms & Risk Factors: Symptoms often develop over several years and can go on for a long time, without being noticed. That is why it is important to know the risk factors and see your doctor to get your blood sugar tested if you have any risk factors.
Getting tested: A simple blood test will let you know if you have diabetes. If you have gotten a blood sugar test at a health faire or pharmacy, follow up at a clinic or doctor’s office to make sure the results are accurate.
Management: Unlike many health conditions, diabetes is managed mostly by you, with the support of your health care team (including primary care doctor, foot doctor, dentist, eye doctor, registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator and pharmacist), family and other important people in your life.
– Develop a healthy eating plan and activity plan. Mange stress.
– Test your blood sugar and keep a record of the results
– Recognize the signs of high or low blood sugar, and what to do about it
– If needed, give yourself insulin by syringe, pen or pump
– Monitor your feet, skin and eyes to catch problems early.
– Buy diabetes supplies and store them properly
Connect with others: Tap into online diabetes communities for encouragement, insights, and support. The American Diabetes Association: http://community.diabetes.organd the American Association of Diabetes Educators’ Online Community: http://www.diabeteseducator.org.