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Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
•Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
•Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.
Finding out you have diabetes is scary. But don't panic. Type 2 diabetes is serious, but people with diabetes can live long, healthy, happy lives.
While diabetes occurs in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population. Type 2 diabetes (formerly known as adult onset diabetes) arises from either an insufficient amount of insulin secretion by the pancreas and/or development of insulin resistance in which the cells are unable to get glucose that they need for their function. All Type 2 diabetics (90-95 per cent of all diabetic patients) may ultimately need adventitious (external injection) insulin but those who are in the early stages of the disease may get by with oral medications which will enable them to manage their diabetes. The one caveat that all diabetics should bear in mind is that medications are only the second line of defence in managing the disease and not a substitute for proper diet and exercise which primarily constitute the frontline defence for diabetes management. |
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END-STAGE renal disease (ESRD) is affecting a growing proportion of type 2 diabetics in Australia and New Zealand, a study found.
The study included 28,548 resident adults of the two countries who began renal replacement therapy (RRT) from April 1, 1991 to December 31, 2005. The study population consisted of 8,560 patients with type 2 diabetes, 1,284 with type 1 diabetes, and 18,704 non-diabetics.
Over the study period, the incidence of ESRD in type 2 diabetics increased by 10.2% annually, the investigators reported in Diabetes Care (2007; published online ahead of print). The incidence of ESRD in type 1 diabetics remained stable over the study period; the incidence of nondiabetic ESRD rose by 1.5% annually.
In patients younger than 70 years, rates of renal transplantation in patients with type 1, type 2, and no diabetes were 41.8%, 6.5%, and 40.9%, respectively. Compared with nondiabetics, patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes were at 64% and 13% higher risk of death after adjusting for potential confounders.
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Summer vacation is the time for fun, relaxation, and a break from everyday life. But being on vacation doesn’t mean you can forget your healthy eating habits and physical activity routine. If you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, plan how to fit physical activity and healthy eating into your travel plans. With a little effort, you can stay healthy while you’re on the road. The key is small steps that lead to big rewards – you don’t have to knock yourself out to prevent diabetes. |
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Diabetes often has no symptoms or warning signs. The only way to be sure is to have your blood tested for glucose (blood sugar). If symptoms do appear, they might include:
•Feeling tired
•Feeling irritable
•Urinating more than normal
•Being very thirsty
•Being very hungry
•Unexplained weight loss
•Blurred vision
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms or think that you might be at risk for diabetes, be sure to talk to your doctor about getting tested.
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