Type 2 Diabetes - Symptoms and Treatment Options
The Center for Disease Control estimates that more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and approximately 90 to 95 percent of those have Type 2 diabetes. “The most common causes of Type 2 diabetes are obesity and genetics, but the good news is that for most people, the disease can be prevented or reversed,” says Cassidy Cooper, PA-C of Washington Regional Endocrinology Clinic.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, which means that the pancreas has to work harder to make more insulin. Insulin is a hormone that tells the cells of your body to use glucose, or sugar, for energy.
Cooper lists the following common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes:
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Increased hunger or thirst
- Fatigue
- Frequent infection
- Increased urination
- Slow healing sores
There are many treatments available for Type 2 diabetes. “Of those treatments, lifestyle changes offer the most help. This includes exercising regularly, eating a diet low in carbs, drinking plenty of water and getting roughly seven to nine hours of sleep every night,” Cooper says.
Additional treatments include both oral and injectable medications that help control blood sugars. Continuous glucose monitors, which provide instant feedback on how food affects the blood sugars in your body, are also available.
If you feel that you may be at risk for Type 2 diabetes, you're experiencing symptoms or need help getting your diabetes under control, contact your primary care provider for a referral, or contact Washington Regional Endocrinology Clinic for more information.