Diabetes is one of the most prevalent health conditions around the world and in the country. About 10.5 percent of the American population (34.2 million people) suffer from diabetes, and about 7.3 million cases remain undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes is indeed more prevalent than the other forms. Moreover, about 88 million people (aged 18 and above) have prediabetes, implying that their blood sugar level is high but still not high to be classified under diabetes.

What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong health disorder, which prevents your body from developing insulin the way it must. Usually, people with type 2 diabetes experience insulin resistance. This kind of diabetes is more common in older or middle-aged people. It is why experts refer to it as adult-onset diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes is also seen in teens and kids, majorly because of childhood obesity.

What are the causes of type 2 diabetes?
Primarily type 2 diabetes is an outcome of two inter-connected issues that are as follows:

• Cells in the liver, fat, and muscle tend to become insulin-resistant, as these cells do not interact with insulin as well as they should, meaning they do not intake adequate sugar.
• The pancreas fails to produce adequate insulin for keeping blood sugar levels in check.

However, the reason for the occurrence is still unknown. But, the key risk factors include extended periods of inactivity and being overweight.

What are the risk factors of type 2 diabetes?
Some risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes are:

• Age – It is more prevalent in people over 45.
• Prediabetes – The diabetes susceptibility is higher in people with prediabetes.
• Pregnancy – Women who developed diabetes in pregnancy or delivered a baby weighing over 9 pounds have a higher type 2 diabetes risk.
• Familial medical history – If diabetes runs in the family, the risk of developing the condition is high.
• Obesity – Diabetes is more prevalent in obese or overweight individuals.
• Have certain health conditions – People with health conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, heart disease, high blood pressure, or depression, have a greater risk.
• Other risk factors – Physical inactivity, high triglycerides or low good cholesterol levels, and acanthosis nigricans are some of the other risk factors of type 2 diabetes.

What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
Some of the key signs associated with type 2 diabetes are:

• Frequent urination
  When your body’s blood sugar levels are high, the kidney will remove the excess sugar by filtering them from the blood. This can make the person want to urinate more frequently, mainly during the night.

• Excessive thirst
  When you urinate frequently, your body loses more water. This can result in dehydration and make you feel thirstier than usual.

• Always feeling hungry
  People with type 2 diabetes feel hungry constantly, irrespective of how or when they eat. It is because the food they eat does not provide them with the necessary energy.

• Fatigue
  Diabetes will also take a toll on your energy levels, leaving you to feel constantly fatigued.

• Blurry vision
  When there is higher sugar content in your bloodstream than necessary, it can deteriorate the blood vessels in the eyes, resulting in blurry vision.

• Delayed healing of wounds and cuts
  Excessive sugar in the blood can damage blood vessels and the nerves in the body, impairing blood circulation. Consequently, even minor wounds and cuts can take several weeks or months to recover.

• Pain, numbness, or tingling sensation in feet or hands
  As diabetes hampers blood circulation, it damages the nerves, resulting in a tingling sensation or some pain and numbness in the feet and hands.

• Dark skin patches
  Diabetes can also cause dark skin creases on the groin, armpit, and neck.

• Yeast infections and itching
  When the blood sugar levels in urine increase, it can result in an infection. These infections are itchy and cause soreness, redness, or a burning sensation.

How can you diagnose type 2 diabetes?
For diagnosing type 2 diabetes, your healthcare professional might perform the following blood tests:

• Fasting plasma glucose test
• Random plasma glucose test
• Glycosylated hemoglobin test
• Oral glucose tolerance testing