For everyone with diabetes, healthy eating, exercise, and weight management are key to managing the condition. A blood sugar level above 200 mg/dl may indicate diabetes.Įvery person is different, so there is no single approach to treating type 2 diabetes. In someone with symptoms of high blood sugar (or hyperglycemia), a random plasma glucose test can be used to check blood sugar levels. An OGTT result of 200 mg/dl or higher indicates diabetes. An FPG of 126 mg/dl or higher indicates diabetes.Īn oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) measures the body's blood glucose level two hours after consuming a sugary drink. An A1C of 6.5% or higher is considered diabetes (5.7% to 6.4% is considered prediabetes, and an A1C below 5.7% is considered normal.)Ī fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test measures a person’s blood glucose level after a period of fasting (not eating) for eight hours. This blood test gives an estimate of a person’s average blood sugar levels from the past two or three months. Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands or feetĪccording to the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetes can be diagnosed through any one of the following testsĪn A1C test, formally called a glycated hemoglobin test or HbA1C test. Common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:įeeling very hungry, even though you are eating Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often appear slowly, meaning that many people with diabetes may not know they have it for years. What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes? To see if you may be at risk for diabetes, consider taking this short and simple Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test from the American Diabetes Association. Having obesity or excess weight (a BMI above 25 kg/m 2)Įthnicity: Hispanic, Black, Native American, and Asian communities have higher rates of diabetes Having family members who have type 2 diabetes There are many risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including: Who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes? If you have experienced stigmatizing behavior or would like to learn more about diabetes stigma, read our resource, dStigmatize. Type 2 diabetes is not simply the result of high body weight – while obesity is one underlying cause of insulin resistance, many individuals with excess weight may never develop type 2 diabetes, while some people with type 2 diabetes never have excess weight. While lifestyle certainly plays a major role, family history also has a significant effect on developing type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t matter what you have done in your life until this point – no one asks to be diagnosed with diabetes. No – type 2 diabetes is not a personal failing. Is it my fault for getting type 2 diabetes? To lower the risk of type 2 diabetes (as well as other diseases), it is recommended to exercise often, eat nutritious food, and maintain a healthy body weight. While type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, it is not simply the result of high body weight. Type 2 diabetes develops through a combination of factors – lifestyle factors, such as food, exercise, stress, and sleep play a role, as do family history and genetics, and environmental factors. It is possible to lower your chances of type 2 diabetes. Losing even a small amount of weight and keeping it off can also help improve glucose management. Managing blood glucose levels carefully and right away, along with other health factors (like cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight), is necessary for preventing these complications and can lead to better moods and more energy. These complications impact quality of life and increase a person’s risk for events like a heart attack or stroke. In the long term, the high blood sugar levels that characterize diabetes can damage the body, affecting the nervous system, blood vessels, eyes, heart, and kidneys. Type 2 diabetes can have both short-term and long-term effects. The good news is that with the right care and treatment, it’s very possible to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that requires attention and careful monitoring. Over time, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin will become less effective and will no longer be able to produce enough insulin for the body’s requirements. During prediabetes and at the beginning of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance increases gradually, and the body tries to make even more insulin so that its cells can still get energy. Insulin resistance is when the body’s cells have trouble responding to insulin. Insulin is the hormone that allows our cells to take up glucose, the energy found in food, so that we can use the energy or store it for later. It means your body isn’t using insulin effectively, and it’s characterized by high blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition in which the body has trouble processing glucose (or sugar) from the bloodstream to use for energy.
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