Diabetes Type 2
Coping with Diabetes Type 2
Diabetes Type 2 is one form of this disease of the endocrine system that involves a lack of or reduced amount of insulin production in the body. Without enough insulin, your body cannot use glucose for energy and that excess glucose stays in the blood causing physical damage and leading to severe complications.
Types
Diabetes comes in several forms, including Diabetes Type 2, Type 1, and gestational. The latter occurs only during pregnancy. Type 1 Diabetes occurs in people whose bodies do not produce any insulin so they need to give themselves insulin injections daily. Type 2 Diabetes, on the other hand, can often be controlled through diet and exercise.
Symptoms
You may want to be tested for Diabetes Type 2 if you are suffering from some or all of the following symptoms:
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Increased fatigue
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone you love, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to be diagnosed.
Diagnosis
A fasting glucose test is used to diagnose diabetes. High blood glucose levels in the blood after fasting suggest that an insulin problem exists in the body. Another test, known as the AC1 test, can see how the levels have been for a longer period of time and can be a more accurate diagnosis tool.
Treatment
With Diabetes Type 2, treatment usually begins with diet and exercise. Sometimes medications and/or insulin injections are needed to control these glucose levels in the body. With treatment, diabetics can lead healthy, normal lives.
Managing Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you need to carry a medical card to alert health care professionals about your condition so they can give you the treatment you need if you can’t speak for yourself because your blood sugar levels have dropped too low.