Diabetes is a condition that affects about 1 in 10 Americans, with Type 2 diabetes accounting for 90-95% of these cases. While the condition mostly developed in people over 45, younger people are now being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes as well.
Read on to learn about the causes of Type 2 diabetes, symptoms, diagnosis, and normal blood sugar levels for Type 2 diabetes to prevent or manage this common condition.
While researchers aren’t able to say that there’s a definitive reason that Type 2 diabetes develops, they can identify its effects on the body and risk factors that make you more vulnerable.
In a healthy body, your pancreas makes a hormone called insulin that allows blood sugar into the cells to be used for energy. When you develop Type 2 diabetes, the cells start to resist insulin — referred to as “insulin resistance” — and don’t allow the blood sugar to enter your cells. The pancreas produces more insulin to try to compensate. However, as the blood cells continue to resist, your blood sugar rises above a healthy level and may lead to prediabetes or Type-2 diabetes diagnosis.
If left untreated, Type 2 diabetes causes serious damage to the body. Possible consequences include vision loss, kidney disease, heart disease, and a shorter life expectancy.
The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes (lack of energy, losing weight, dry skin, excessive thirst, frequent urination) often come on slowly and can be hard to spot if you’re not looking for them. For this reason, experts recommend getting tested if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
The first condition that is likely to develop due to Type 2 diabetes causes is called prediabetes — which is estimated to affect 1 in 3 Americans. However, the diagnosis for either prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes is the same: a blood test or series of blood tests. What the doctor will be looking for is whether your blood sugar falls into one of the following ranges:
Normal Blood Sugar Level:
Less than 140mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L)
Prediabetic Blood Sugar Level:
140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L to 11.0 mmol/L)
Normal Blood Sugar Level for Diagnosing Type 2 Diabetes
More than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L)
Note: The aim for someone with Type 2 diabetes is to lower this blood glucose range — not to stay in the danger zone. The recommended Type 2 diabetes blood glucose targets are:
Whichever category you find yourself in, there are practical steps you can take to reduce your risks and manage your blood sugar:
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