Dr. Wilner Samson discusses what to look for, what you need to know and how to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Q. What is type 2 diabetes?
A. Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body doesn’t use insulin properly. In type 2 diabetes, some people produce a lot of insulin but can’t use it effectively. This is referred to as insulin resistant. Others with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin. In both cases, blood sugar will be high since sufficient and effectively used insulin is necessary for the body to absorb blood sugar. Type 2 is different from type 1 diabetes because people with type 1, do not produce insulin at all.
Q. What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
A. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually—so gradually, in fact, that it’s possible to miss them or to not connect them as related symptoms. Some of the common symptoms of type 2 diabetes:
- Fatigue
- Extreme thirst
- Frequent urination
- Extreme hunger
- Weight loss
- Frequent infections
- Slow wound healing
- Blurry vision
Q. What causes type 2 diabetes?
A. Type 2 diabetes has several causes: genetics and lifestyle are the most important ones. A combination of these factors can cause insulin resistance, when your body doesn’t use insulin as well as it should. Insulin resistance is the most common cause of type 2 diabetes.
Q. Can type 2 Diabetes Mellitus be prevented?
A. Type 2 diabetes has many risk factors, including genetics and lifestyle choices. Over the past 15 years studies have shown that a sustained change in life style for some high risk people can dramatically reduce their chances of developing diabetes. This was most notably demonstrated by The Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group.