Type 2 Diabetes: All That You Need To Know

Type 2 diabetes, if you have not heard about, is a chronic condition that affects the function of glucose in our bodies. Glucose is basically the fuel our cells need in order to function properly. It is a necessity for someone to have energy. We also need insulin which is a hormone that is a pancreatic production that helps glucose enter our cells to produce energy. In this article, we will let you in on all the details you need to know about type 2 diabetes.

The Main Problem

Many people face one common problem when it comes to type 2 diabetes. People who suffer from type 2 diabetes cannot use or store glucose because their cells resist it. In other cases, there is not enough glucose in their body. So this results in glucose forming in the bloodstream that obviously leads to health implications that cause grave danger.

Main Factors

There are over 29 million Americans who struggle every day with type 2 diabetes. To make matters worse, there are around 8 million of them who are not even aware that they have it. There is also a great chance of you having type 2 diabetes in case your ancestors have it. Other factors include your age or ethnicity even your level of activeness or if you are overweight.

Type 1 Diabetes

So what would be the main reason that separates type 1 from type 2 diabetes?  Well, type 1 diabetes is actually an auto-immune disease where the body fails to produce insulin. The immune system demolishes the insulin-producing cells present in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes mostly occurs in children, teens, and young adults. People who have this illness are in need of a  life-long insulin therapy.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the body’s use of insulin decreases or, in other cases the body does not make enough. It’s most common in middle-aged or older adults, there is no rule that says others cannot develop type 2 diabetes. This condition can be treated by controlling your diet, exercise, and medication.

What Are The Causes?

Type 2 diabetes develops if the insulin in the body is not produced as it should or if the pancreas cannot manage to develop the required amount of insulin to guide the glucose out of the bloodstream to flow through the cells. This causes a glucose builds up there in the blood which in turn causes high blood sugar. If the body’s insulin cannot be properly used, it is known as insulin resistance which is the main cause for type 2 diabetes. Although unclear, the genetic and lifestyle of the person plays a huge role.

The Most Common Causes

One huge factor would be the gene or genes responsible for insulin resistance. However, this has not been proven by scientists as yet. The lifestyle that you follow is also a contributing factor.

Another factor is the racial group you belong to. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders are more prone to develop type 2 diabetes than white people.

Your lifestyle is another thing that determines whether or not you would have type 2 diabetes. Being obese and staying inactive is something that triggers your body to have type 32 diabetes. Remaining sedentary, cigarettes, drinking alcohol excessively, and consuming a high-fat, low-fiber, sugar-laden diet all raise risks as well.