Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (usually called just Type 2 Diabetes) has also had several names in the past: it used to be called Adult-Onset Diabetes, Obesity-Related Diabetes, Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes, and Adult-Onset Diabetes (since it is typically found in adults over 40, but can actually be found in young adults and even children; if you are over 45 you should consider being tested for diabetes

just in case). The name "Type 2 Diabetes" has been agreed by the international medical community. Type 2 Diabetes accounts for 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases.

If you have Type 2 diabetes, either your body is not making enough insulin, or else some of your body cells (such as muscle and liver) do not properly use the insulin that you do make. Your pancreas tries to compensate by producing more insulin, but eventually it cannot keep up.

Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be treated with diet and exercise; but if blood sugar levels are still high then treatment with insulin is probably needed. About 40% of people with Type 2 diabetes need insulin injections.

Many patients who would normally go on to develop Type 2 will actually initially display symptoms of Pre-Diabetes, and appropriate treatment may actually prevent full Type 2 appearing provided it is caught in time.

Type 2 diabetes may go unnoticed for a time, and there can be severe long-term complications such as damage to nerves and blood vessels, which can lead to heart disease, strokes, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and even amputation – if it is not diagnosed early enough. In fact some Type 2 sufferers can display no external symptoms at all for several years.

Treatment for Type 2 includes careful food intake, exercise, monitoring your blood sugar level, and medications (possibly including insulin).

Note that 80% of people with Type 2 are overweight; so part of the treatment is to try to lose weight – although the careful food intake and the exercise should take care of that for you.