What is Type 2 Diabetes?

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

• Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body isn’t able to produce enough insulin, or appropriately use the insulin it is able to make.
• Insulin is a hormone that is used by the body to metabolize/control the levels of sugar/glucose in your blood
• If you are unable to use/make insulin, the levels of glucose/sugar in your blood can rise, causing harm to your body.
• Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or well controlled by diet, exercise and if you are on diabetic medication, properly adhering to medication instructions.

Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

If diabetes is not well controlled, many different complications can arise. Listed here are a few of the complications of uncontrolled diabetes.

• High blood pressure (Hypertension): Diabetes can increase chances of heart disease and/or high blood pressure. This can cause damage to other parts of your body including the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.
• Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetes can cause serious damage to the eyes leading to vision loss.
• Nerve damage: A long term complication of diabetes is nerve damage/ peripheral neuropathy. With severe complications and/or where diabetes is not well controlled, infection can occur as well as amputation.