Living with Diabetes

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes makes up 90-95% of all detected cases in adults (CDC, 2011). Diabetes is a disease marked by high blood sugar levels. Two main causes of type 2 diabetes are:

• The body either does not make enough insulin.
• The body cannot use the insulin produced.

What is Insulin?

     Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that helps the body break down food into a simple sugar called glucose. Glucose travels through the blood to provide energy for your body cells. Insulin is important for this process because it allows the cells to take in glucose from the blood.  

     In diabetes, blood glucose levels get too high because the body does not use insulin. When this happens, your body cells may be starved for energy. High blood glucose levels can also hurt your heart, eyes, kidneys, or nerves (American Diabetes Association, 2011).

Resources:

American Diabetes Association. (2011). Facts about type 2. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-2/facts-about-type-2.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). National diabetes fact sheet: National estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United States. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf

[Pancreas]. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/intestinaladhesions/index.aspx#what 

[Diabetes]  http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-report-provides-a-plan-for-living-with-type-2-diabetes-201203194506                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      NEXT>>