Type II Diabetes: Cause and Effect

Type II diabetes is also known as adult-onset or non insulin-dependent diabetes. Type II is the most common form of diabetes. Type II diabetes accounts for about 90 percent of all cases of diabetes. More than 6 percent of all people between the ages of 20 and 74 years of age and more than 12 percent of people over age 40 have type II diabetes. (1). These numbers continue to increase and the condition is on the rise caused largely by the current obesity epidemic. (2).

Although, currently there is no cure for type II diabetes, there is plenty we can do to manage or prevent the chronic disease. We can begin by incorporating healthier food choices into our diets, putting physical activity in our daily routine and maintaining a healthy weight.

In type II diabetes your body is resistant to the effects of insulin-either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin becoming insulin resistant. (3). Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. Insulin is the "key" our body needs to unlock the glucose to be used properly in our cells. During digestion, sugar is absorbed into the blood stream and without the help of insulin the glucose stays in our blood stream causing the high blood sugar levels that eventually start causing complications to our vital organs and can become life-threatening.

Some of the causes of type II diabetes are caused by genetics. Family members that have the disease already or have high blood pressure or obesity play a bigger risk role than someone with no family history connection. Ethnic groups for example, people of Asian, Hispanic or African descent are at greater risk than people who are white. Environmental factors such as diet and activity levels along with genetics also influence the development risk. Other causes can be gestational diabetes in about 3 to 5 percent of pregnant women, also, some endocrine conditions that indirectly change the action and production of insulin and lead to diabetes include Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly and hyperthyroidism. (1).

Effects start right away by your cells being starved for energy. This is when one of the first symptoms appears by noticing a significant weight loss. Other effects are hypoglycemia- (low blood sugar) too little food or too much insulin or physical activity, hyperglycemia- (high blood sugar) too much food or too little or no insulin or medication.

Long-term effects include heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney disease (nephropathy). The most common long-term complication of type II diabetes is cardiovascular disease, which can cause heart attack, angina (chest pain), stroke and even death. The risk of heart disease in people with diabetes is estimated to be at least twice that of people without diabetes. (1).

Works Cited
(1) http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do;jsessionid=8291
(2) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/type-2-diabetes/DS00585/DSECTION=7
(3) http://www.diabetes.org/utils/printthispage.jsp?PageID=TYPE2DI