Type 2 Diabetes

About Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide and is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases. It occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin and or the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin. Risk factors include obesity particularly visceral fat, physical inactivity, age over 45, family history, ethnicity African, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, gestational diabetes history, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Symptoms include excessive thirst polydipsia, frequent urination polyuria, increased hunger polyphagia, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing wounds, and tingling in hands and feet. However, many people are asymptomatic for years. Diagnosis is made through HbA1c 6.5 percent or higher, fasting blood glucose 126 mg dL or higher, or oral glucose tolerance test. Complications include cardiovascular disease, kidney failure nephropathy, vision loss retinopathy, nerve damage neuropathy, and foot ulcers potentially requiring amputation. Treatment commonly involves lifestyle changes, often alongside metformin, with other medications chosen individually, including SGLT2 inhibitors empagliflozin, GLP 1 receptor agonists semaglutide, Ozempic, DPP 4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, and insulin. GLP 1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors have transformed diabetes care with cardiovascular and kidney benefits beyond glucose control.