Type 2 Diabetes – Addressing the Rising Epidemic

Last updated on April 14, 2022

Type 2 Diabetes is sweeping the nation, with the number of cases only rising from year to year. In the year 2020, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reported that there had been an increase in type 2 diabetes, particularly in younger populations.

The data shows a 4.8% increase in cases among those 20 years of age and younger.¹ With this disease becoming more and more of an issue, it only makes sense that we should educate ourselves on this subject starting with the most obvious question.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

The first thing we need to understand is insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin acts as a key to letting sugar in your body’s cells use it as energy. Having type 2 diabetes means that, while your body makes insulin, your cells do not respond like they should to that insulin. The results are something called insulin resistance.

The pancreas will make more and more insulin to try and get the cells to respond, but eventually, the pancreas cannot keep up. The result is your blood sugar rising, which turns into prediabetes. If not treated, this results in type 2 diabetes.² In short, if your body makes insulin but does not respond as it should, and your blood sugar rises higher than it should, it will lead to many health issues if not controlled. 

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Speaking of health issues from this condition, let’s talk about a few symptoms. They include:

1. Increased thirst
2. Frequent urination
3. Increased hunger
4. Fatigue
5. Blurred vision
6. Numbness
7. Slow healing sore
8. Frequent infections

If these symptoms happen, it is best to consult your doctor.

Health Complications from Type 2 Diabetes

For persons already diagnosed, they should monitor certain health complications.³ These include:

1. Heart disease
2. Nerve damage in limbs
3. Kidney disease
4. Eye damage
5. Skin conditions
6. Hearing loss
7. Sleep apnea
8. Dementia

Thankfully, these health complications are preventable and manageable with the correct approaches. 

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention

After learning about the side effects and health complications of type 2 diabetes, it’s understandable for someone to know how to prevent it. There are three main components to lower your risk for type 2 diabetes.⁴

1. Lose weight or maintain a healthy weight for your body
2. Be more active and exercise more
3. Eat healthily and drink lots of water

Ultimately, maintain a healthy lifestyle with these 5 Simple Steps, and you will not have much cause to worry about developing type 2 diabetes. 

Type 2 diabetes is mainly a lifestyle illness, meaning it is affected by your lifestyle. That also means that preventing it and treating it often look similar.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) states:

“If you have prediabetes, you can lower your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Lose weight if you need to, become more physically active, and follow a reduced-calorie eating plan.”⁵

Treating type 2 diabetes can be a combination of lifestyle changes as well as medication. The NIDDK also states that:

“Some people with type 2 diabetes can manage their disease by making healthy food choices and being more physically active. Many people with type 2 diabetes need diabetes medicines as well. These medicines may include diabetes pills or medicines you inject under your skin, such as insulin.”⁶

Sometimes the media can make data on disease look very scary. It is always important to step back, educate yourself, and look at what the data means. Yes, the proportion of people with this condition is increasing in most countries. More than 350 million people were at risk for developing it as of 2019.⁷

That does not mean we are hopeless against the disease. Thus, regardless of how we approach preventing or treating it, most data suggest that living a healthy lifestyle is a helpful place to start. Live a healthy life, encourage others to do the same, and together we can lower the rise in type 2 diabetes.

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Sources:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, February 11). Rates of new diagnosed cases of type 1 and type 2 diabetes continue to rise among children, teens. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/research/reports/children-diabetes-rates-rise.html#:~:text=The%20rate%20of%20new%20cases%20%28or%20incidence%29%20of,issue%20of%20CDC%E2%80%99s%20Morbidity%20and%20Mortality%20Weekly%20Report.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 10). Type 2 diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html.
3. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, January 20). Type 2 diabetes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193.
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Preventing type 2 diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-type-2-diabetes.
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Preventing type 2 diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-type-2-diabetes.
6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Insulin, medicines, & other diabetes treatments. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/insulin-medicines-treatments#:~:text=Most%20people%20with%20type%202%20diabetes%20start%20medical,help%20you%20lose%20a%20small%20amount%20of%20weight.
7. Diabetes facts & figures. International Diabetes Federation – Home. (2019). Retrieved September 16, 2021, from https://www.idf.org/aboutdiabetes/what-is-diabetes/facts-figures.html#:~:text=Approximately%20463%20million%20adults%20%2820-79%20years%29%20were%20living,who%20are%20above%2065%20years%20old%20have%20diabetes.