The information below is courtesy of Diabetes Australia. Visit the Diabetes Australia website for more information.
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition in which the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin (insulin resistance) and/or gradually loses the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas (reduced insulin production).
The exact causes of type 2 diabetes are still unknown; however, it is associated with a number of modifiable lifestyle risk factors including high blood pressure and being overweight. It is a major consequence of the obesity epidemic, resulting from poor diet and lack of activity/sedentary jobs.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 45 years but is increasingly occurring in younger age groups including children, adolescents and young adults.
It is more likely in people with a family history of type 2 diabetes or from particular ethnic backgrounds including Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, Pacific Islander, Indian or Chinese.
Women who have given birth to a child over 4.5kg (9 lbs), or had gestational diabetes when pregnant, or had a condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, are also at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes:
Early diagnosis, optimal treatment and effective ongoing support and management reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications.
Many people with type 2 diabetes display no symptoms. As type 2 diabetes is commonly (but not always) diagnosed at a later age, sometimes signs are dismissed as a part of ‘getting older’. In some cases, by the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the complications of diabetes may already be present.
For some the first sign may be a complication of diabetes such as a heart attack, vision problems or a foot ulcer.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:
People at risk of type 2 diabetes can delay and even prevent the condition by:
Type 2 diabetes is managed with a combination of regular physical activity, healthy eating and weight reduction. As type 2 diabetes is often progressive, most people will need oral medications and/or insulin injections in addition to lifestyle changes over time.