Sun 27 Feb 2011
Type 2 diabetes is one form of a disease that happens when blood sugar levels go well above normal and stay there. Diabetes is seen when when the body doesn’t generate enough insulin. The body cells require insulin to subsequently break down glucose into energy. Without sufiicient insulin, a Diabetes 2 sufferer’s blood glucose levels start to rise. That can lead to long-term damage to the muscles and nerves all over the body. Most commonly, there frequently 2 ways in which diabetes may develop. The first is when the pancreas stops producing insulin. Patients with this form have Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes. Mostly, those patients with this form of diabetes develop it as a child or as young adults.
The second way diabetes forms is when the cells of the body begin needing more and more insulin in order to convert glucose to energy. This condition, referred to as insulin resistance, can worsen over time. With the passing of time, the pancreas can get to the situation where it cannot possibly output enough insulin for individuals with Diabetes Type 2. That causes glucose levels to rise. Patients with this form have Type 2 diabetes, or adult onset. People with this form of diabetes develop it at any age from childhood through senior years. Diabetes can form in a third way as well. Some pregnant women may not synthesise sufficient insulin blood glucose levels begin to rise. Patients with this form have gestational diabetes. This form usually disappears after the birth. as they get into the final months of pregnancy.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Who is likely to get this disease? It is seen to occur in many groups such as African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans, Native Hawaiians, as well as Pacific Islanders. It is more common as people begin to get older. Those who are overweight can also be susceptible to the disease. Anyone in the general population can develop Type 2 under the right circumstances. Hence, it is rapidly becoming a growing problem and health threat in the United States and around the globe.
What does Type 2 diabetes cost the United States every year? As of 2007, over 23 million people of all ages had Type Diabetes 2 in one form or the other. That is 7.8 percent of the total population. Every year over 1.5 million people get a new diagnosis for diabetes. By 2005, diabetes directly resulted or contributed to the deaths of over 233,000 people in the country. When everything factors in, it can cost over $200 billion every year in medical and non-medical costs.