Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes generally occurs in people age 40 and older. Unfortunately, in the last few years, this type of diabetes has been found in younger and younger people.

In some high-risk groups, it can occur in childhood. In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot produce enough insulin or the insulin secreted in unable to do its job properly. Either way, this causes a rise in blood sugar.

The majority of diabetics, about 90%, suffer from this type of diabetes.

Causes and people at risk

The causes of type 2 diabetes are becoming better understood. There are many causes and often it’s a combination of several factors that trigger the onset of the disease.

A genetic predisposition, being overweight and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes. As well, some studies point to a high-fat diet as a possible risk factor.

We know that certain groups are more at risk than others. Aboriginals, Latino-Americans, Asians and people of African descent are more likely to develop the disease than other ethnic groups. The exact reasons are still unknown, but their adoption of our Western industrialized lifestyle might be a factor in this phenomenon.

It is now known that several genes are linked to type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that the combined action of several genes causes the disease. The challenge is to understand and identify the mechanisms at work and all the possible combinations that trigger type 2 diabetes.

If you have a family history of diabetes, are 40 or older and are overweight, you are at risk for diabetes.

Symptoms

The symptoms are the same as for type 1 diabetes, but are generally less severe:

• fatigue, drowsiness
• frequent urination
• extreme thirst
• excessive hunger
• weight loss
• blurred vision
• cuts and bruises slow to heal
• genital infections
• tingling or numbness in hands or feet
• mood swings

In many cases, the symptoms are so mild that they are overlooked for many years. It takes an estimated seven (7) years on average before a doctor finally makes a diagnosis of diabetes.

Diagnosis

The only way to accurately determine whether you have diabetes is with a laboratory blood test. It measures the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood.

The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Diabetes in Canada provide these blood glucose levels as a reference:

Diabetic:

 Blood glucose, fasting: 7 mmol/L or more
 Blood glucose, 2 hours after drinking 75 g of glucose: 11 mmol/L or more
 Blood glucose, at any time: 11 mmol/L or more, with classic symptoms

Non-diabetic:

 Blood glucose, fasting: Less than 6.1 mmol/L
 Blood glucose, 2 hours after drinking 75 g of glucose: Less than 7.8 mmol/L
 Blood glucose, at any time: —

Sometimes, a second blood test is necessary to confirm the results.

Treatment

There are many approaches to treating type 2 diabetes. The goal is to manage and control blood glucose levels, which can be achieved through:

• a well-balanced diet, more exercise and proper stress management
• a well-balanced diet, more exercise, proper stress management, oral anti-diabetic drugs and/or daily insulin injections

In many cases, type 2 diabetes can be controlled by changing your diet and exercising more. Obviously, any significant change in lifelong habits poses a major challenge.

Complications

All the complications from diabetes have a common source: an excess of blood glucose. Too much glucose in the blood can damage the kidneys (nephropathy), eyes (retinopathy), nervous system (neuropathy), heart (heart attack) and blood vessels (hypertension, arteriosclerosis, etc.).

However, other factors contribute to the onset of complications: age, heredity, the duration of the disease and lifestyle. Diabetes complications can have a major impact on a diabetic’s life. Proper control of blood glucose can delay and limit complications.

Prevention

The onset of type 2 diabetes is closely linked to lifestyle.

About 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Hence, you need to closely monitor your eating habits and make the required changes to your diet.

Eating three (3) well-balanced meals every day, opting for nutritious snacks and exercising more can significantly improve the health of people at risk.

By adopting healthy lifestyle habits from a young age, it is possible to delay the onset of diabetes for many years and limit potential complications.

Sources: Diabetes Quebec, Canadian Diabetes Association, Canadian Medical Association, American Diabetes Association. March 2001. Revised in February 2004.