Learning About Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disease of high blood sugar. It is the most common form of diabetes and can develop at any age. In this type of diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin that the body makes does not work the way that it should; this causes the blood sugar level to become out of balance because it gets too high. The body may also keep making sugar even though it does not need it. Once a person has type 2 diabetes, it does not go away.
When you have type 2 diabetes, it is important to balance the level of sugar in your body. Your body helps to do this by releasing insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas. Insulin moves the sugar from your blood into your cells to use for energy. Your body's main source of energy is glucose, a type of sugar.
Your body gets sugar from 2 major sources:
- The foods that you eat
- The sugar that your liver makes when you have not eaten
Symptoms of high blood sugar include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, and blurred vision. Uncontrolled high blood sugar, when present for a long time, can cause health problems, such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and poor circulation, which may lead to limb amputation.
Sometimes the liver makes more sugar than the body needs, which causes the blood sugar level to get even higher and out of balance.
Finding out that you have diabetes can be upsetting—and type 2 diabetes is serious—but if you take an active role in managing the disease, you will be on the road to better health.
Patient Tools
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Daily Glucose Tracker
Use this handy grid to record glucose levels quickly and easily. -
Exercise Journal
People with diabetes say that they are more likely to remain motivated when they keep track of their physical activity. This simple, easy-to-use tool can help. - View More Patient Tools >>>