You need sugar, or glucose, to keep your body working. Normally when you eat, your pancreas releases a hormone known as insulin that moves the sugar from food out of your blood and into your cells. There, it can either be stored or used for energy. But if you have Type 2 diabetes, this process doesn’t work as well as it should. Your cells have a harder time using insulin properly, something called insulin resistance, so excess sugar builds up in your blood and can damage organs like your eyes and kidneys. Too much sugar can also lead to nerve damage and heart disease. The good news is Type 2 diabetes and its complications can often be avoided or at least delayed.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 1 in 10 Americans are living with diabetes, about 90-95 percent of them have Type 2 diabetes. The disease most often affects people over age 45, but children, teens and young adults are increasingly being diagnosed with it. People who are overweight or obese are also at higher risk for the disease. Increased fat makes it harder for the body to use insulin the correct way.
Other risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include:
- Family history and genes
- Low activity level
- Poor diet
- Excess body weight around the waist
- Hypertension or high cholesterol
- A history of gestational diabetes
- Women who have delivered a baby over nine pounds
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Before people develop Type 2 diabetes, they almost always have prediabetes — blood glucose (blood sugar) levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It’s not a given that you will develop Type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes. Early treatment for prediabetes can actually return blood glucose levels to the normal range before further complications can arise.
One of the best ways to lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes is by giving your body good fuel. That means eating healthy and getting regular movement. According to the American Diabetes Association, you can lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes by 58 percent by:
- Losing 7 percent of your body weight (that’s 15 lbs. if you weigh 200 lbs.)
- Exercising moderately (think brisk walk) for 30 minutes a day, five days a week
How do you know if you or a loved one have Type 2 diabetes?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell because you may not have symptoms at first, or at all. Being very thirsty, tired or going to the bathroom a lot are good clues. A change in your vision (blurriness) might also be a sign of diabetes.
A simple blood test to check your fasting blood glucose levels can help tell if you have diabetes. This is done when you have not had anything to eat or drink (except water) for at least eight hours. Other tests are available as well, including an A1C test and oral glucose tolerance test. Your health care provider may suspect that you have diabetes if your blood sugar level is higher than 125 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
You may be able to manage your diabetes with a balanced diet and being active, or your health care provider may prescribe insulin, other injectable medications or oral diabetes medicines to help manage your blood sugar and avoid complications.
It is ideal to avoid getting Type 2 diabetes rather than having to treat it. But if you’re at risk due to being overweight or over age 45, ask your primary care provider for a blood sugar test at your next visit. If you do have Type 2 diabetes, take proper steps in managing it which include regular exercise and healthy diet.
Texas Health is here to provide you with the tools and support you need to navigate the journey to better health.