About diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
About 90 to 95 percent of all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes affects mostly adults. However, recent reports suggest although type 2 diabetes is still rare in children, it is being diagnosed more frequently in children and adolescents, particularly in American Indians, African Americans, and Hispanic/Latino American populations.,
Having type 2 diabetes means that your body doesn't make enough insulin, or that the cells in your body that need insulin have a difficult time using the insulin your body makes.
As diabetes develops, the pancreas works hard to make more insulin. Eventually, the pancreas begins to tire out and makes less insulin. Blood glucose levels go above normal, but they do not go high enough to qualify as diabetes. This is pre-diabetes. Staying active and eating healthy may work to help prevent or delay the progression to type 2 diabetes.
Most people with type 2 diabetes take a medicine to lower their blood glucose., However, making lifestyle changes, such as improving your eating habits and becoming more active, are also important to effective management of your diabetes.
Over time, for most people with type 2 diabetes, the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas continues to decline and blood glucose levels continue to rise. One or more diabetes medications that help the body control glucose levels may be prescribed. But when insulin production drops too low, these medications aren't enough. At this point, your healthcare provider may prescribe insulin.
For some people with type 2 diabetes, it may be necessary to begin on insulin therapy as soon as their diabetes is diagnosed.
Models are for illustrative purposes only.
