Type 2 diabetes, a form of diabetes mellitus, is likely one of the better-known chronic diseases in the world — and it makes sense that this would be the case. Data suggests in the United States alone, 37.3 million people, or 11.3 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes, and the majority of these people have type 2.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have a family history of the disease, this condition and the risk for health complications that may come with it can be scary. And with the required diet and lifestyle changes, there’s no question that this diagnosis can be a challenging one to reckon with.
But living with type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be devastating. In fact, when you’re educated about the disease — such as understanding how insulin resistance develops and how to mitigate it, knowing how to spot the signs of diabetes, and learning what to eat — you can tap into the resources you need to lead a happy, healthy life.
Among the exciting advancements is the use of the high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet as a therapeutic approach to manage type 2 diabetes, one review notes.
Furthermore, there’s increasing evidence that one tactic — bariatric surgery — could reverse type 2 diabetes entirely.
In this article, delve into this information and so much more. Sit back, read on, and get ready to take charge of type 2 diabetes.
Signs and Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
Still, you should be aware of the symptoms and early warning signs, such as the following:
- Frequent urination and extreme thirst
- Sudden or unexpected weight loss
- Increased hunger
- Blurry vision
- Dark, velvety patches of skin (called acanthosis nigricans)
- Fatigue
- Wounds that won’t heal
If you have one or more risk factors for type 2 diabetes and notice any of these signs, it’s a good idea to call your doctor, as you may have type 2 diabetes.
How Is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?
More than 9 in 10 people with diabetes have type 2, which occurs when the body does not use insulin properly, and your blood sugar (glucose) level rises too high.
Should You Get Screened for Type 2 Diabetes?
If someone in your family has had type 2 diabetes, your chances of developing it rise. “Patients with a first-degree relative — mother, father, sibling — with type 2 diabetes have a two to threefold risk of developing it,” says Sarah Rettinger, MD, an endocrinologist at Providence Saint John’s Health in Santa Monica, California.
Other risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
- Age — older than 45
- Being overweight
- Race or ethnicity: Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
- Inactivity
- Smoking
- History of gestational diabetes, which happens during pregnancy
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Eating more than usual
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue despite sleeping an amount of time you would consider to be restful
- Blurred vision
- Swollen or red gums
- Dry mouth
- Tingling, burning, or numbness in your hands or feet
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Wounds that heal slowly or not at all
