Type 2 Diabetes - Causes, Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms, Treatment - Everything You Need To Know

glucose is the main source of energy production in our body normal blood glucose levels should be between 60 to 140 milligram per dillit to supply cells of the body with their required energy glucose is absorbed by the intestines into the bloodstream to distribute throughout the body excess glucose is stored in the form of glycogen within the liver and muscle tissue a good balance between hormones of the pancreas including insulin and glucagen intestinal and adrenal horm hormones is required to maintain a healthy glucose level in blood insulin and glucagen are the two most important hormones in regulating blood glucose each of these hormones have opposite actions insulin secreted by the pancreatic beta cells lowers the blood glucose levels whereas glucagen secreted by the pancreatic alpha cells increases the blood glucose levels insulin decreases blood glucose by the following mechanisms it promotes glucose update by the cells as especially in the muscle and fat tissue it also reduces the production of new glucose by the liver in addition insulin promotes glycogen production in the liver using glucose through these mechanisms insulin reduces blood glucose level to a normal after a meal by contrast glucagen has the opposite of these actions and its main job is to maintain a healthy blood glucose level between Meals Diabetes is a condition characterized by elevated blood glucose levels than normal there are two main types of diabetes type 1 diabetes usually starts before the age of 20 it is an autoimmune condition characterized by the destruction of the pancreatic beta cells leading to Absolute insulin deficiency so these people are dependent on lifelong exogenous insulin type 2 diabetes which is the most common type appears during adulthood it is characterized by a combination of peripheral insulin resistance and in adequate insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells leading to relative insulin deficiency in insulin resistance cells do not respond to insulin as in normal individuals so their glucose uptake will be impaired as a result glucose will build up in the blood leading to hyperglycemia for type 2 diabetes to occur both insulin resistance and inadequate insulin secretion must exist for example all overweight individuals have insulin resistance but diabetes develops only in those who cannot increase insulin secretion sufficiently to compensate for their insulin resistance the eyology of type 2 diabetes involves a combination of environmental and genetic factors major risk factors for type 2 diabetes include age greater than 45 years sedentary lifestyle high calorie intake obesity family history of type 2 diabetes high blood pressure high blood cholesterol history of gestational diabetes in women and polycystic ovarian syndrome many patients with type 2 diabetes are asymptomatic and the disease remains undiagnosed for many years classic symptoms of diabetes include polyurea or increased urination polydipsia or increased thirst polyphagia or increased hunger and weight loss other symptoms that may suggest hyperglycemia IA include blurred vision lower limb paresthesia lack of energy poor wound healing and frequent infections long-term diabetes can lead to several complications they can be divided broadly into microvascular and macrovascular complications three major microvascular complications are diabetic retinopathy which can lead to adult onset blindness diabetic nephropathy which is the leading cause for chronic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy which affects the peripheral nerves macrovascular complications increase the risk of heart attack stroke and peripheral vascular disease lifestyle changes are the first line treatment of type 2 diabetes these include regular exercising low calorie diet quitting smoking and weight loss if these changes are unable to provide a considerable Improvement anti-diabetic drugs are indicated since type 2 diabetic patients are not completely lack of insulin initially they do not require exogenous insulin metformin is the first line drug in the medical therapy of type 2 diabetes in addition other anti-diabetic drugs can also be used in combination with metformin however as the disease progresses pancreas gradually loses its ability to secrete insulin ultimately these patients will also require exogenous insulin to maintain a healthy blood glucose level