Type 2 diabetes develops as a when a person’s body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or else when it does not produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. Insulin is a hormone that regulates the level of glucose in your blood. In type 2 diabetes, this process works improperly.
Instead of moving into your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. This occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the blood cells become resistant to the action of insulin. Type 2 diabetes tends to develop slowly, and a person may be unaware that he or she has type 2 diabetes.
Signs and Symptoms
- Increased thirst and frequent urination.
- Increased hunger
- Weight loss
- Fatigue.
- Blurred vision.
- Slow-healing sores or frequent infections.
What causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes can arise from and be exacerbated by obesity, hypertension, high levels of cholesterol as well as certain medical conditions such as acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, thyrotoxicosis, pheochromocytoma, chronic pancreatitis, cancer and drugs.
Additional factors found to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes include aging, high-fat diets and a less active lifestyle.
In addition it is now believed that there is a strong genetic link to Type 2 diabetes, and having a family history of Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing this condition exponentially.