What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that inhibits insulin (a hormone that regulates glucose or sugar in the blood) production in the body or fails to use the insulin it makes efficiently.
Every day, nearly 500 Canadians are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and a total of 11 million are living with diabetes or prediabetes.
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What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes include:
- Âge
- Ethnicity
- Family history
- Hypertension artérielle
- Cholestérol élevé
- High body mass index (BMI)
- Prediabetes
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Acanthosis nigricans
- Taking glucocorticoids
- Gestational diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms & Complications
Some people with diabetes do not have noticeable symptoms. For others, common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:
- Excessive thirst
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Frequent urination
- Infections
- Slow-healing cuts and bruises
- Weight changes
- Diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Tingling or numbness in extremities
Some complications associated with type 2 diabetes include:
- Kidney disease
- Cardiopathie
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Stroke
- Hypertension artérielle
- Nerve damage and amputation
- Mental health issues
When to See a Doctor
People over age 40 should be tested for diabetes every three years. Those with one or more of the risk factors listed above should be tested more frequently and starting at an earlier age.
How to Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes
There are four primary methods for diagnosing type 2 diabetes. At least two of these tests should be performed to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.
Fasting blood glucose test
Patients cannot eat or drink for at least eight hours prior to this blood test. A result of ≥7.0 mmol/L indicates diabetes.
Random blood glucose test
This blood test is similar to the fasting test, except that it doesn't matter when you last ate. A result of ≥11.1 mmol/L indicates diabetes.
A1C test
Another blood test, this one does not require fasting. A test result of ≥6.5% indicates diabetes.
Oral glucose tolerance test
Two hours prior to this blood test, patients are asked to ingest a special drink. A test result of ≥11/1 mmol/L indicates diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
The key to diabetes treatment is keeping blood sugar levels steady within a target range set by your doctor. To do this, your doctor will likely recommend a combination of glucose monitoring, medication and lifestyle changes including diet, exercise, and stress management.
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Top Prescribed Type 2 Diabetes Medications
Oral and injectable medications are commonly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, each with their own set of pros and cons. Patients should discuss their unique symptoms with their doctor to get appropriate guidance as to which medication (and dosage) is most likely to work for them.
- Metformin Plus Rosiglitazone (Avandamet)
- Metformin Plus Sitagliptin (Janumet)
- Metformin Plus Linagliptin (Jentadueto)
- Glimepiride Plus Rosiglitazone (Avandaryl)
