Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non?insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes) occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot properly use the insulin it makes to control blood sugar. Insulin allows sugar to enter the cells of your body. Once inside the cells, sugar is used as a source of energy.

Type 1 diabetes, previously called juvenile diabetes, affects only 5-10 percent of the diabetic population. It can be a result of an autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. People can develop Type 1 diabetes as either a child or adult and it must be treated with insulin. Type 2 diabetes, previously called adult onset diabetes, affects 90-95 percent of the diabetic population.

It is important to control type 2 diabetes because the buildup of sugar in the blood, if not controlled, can lead to serious medical problems such as kidney damage, amputation, heart disease, and blindness.

To help control type 2 diabetes, prescription medications such as ACTOplus met should be used in conjunction with nutritional counseling, weight reduction as needed, and physical activity.

Type 2 Diabetes can be simply defined or diagnosed by a blood sugar test. The American Diabetes Association's criteria for diabetes are as follows. Another useful test is called hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C); this is the "footprints" to diabetes, which averages blood sugar levels over a 90-day period.

Type 2 Diabetes is caused by a combination of insulin resistance (reduced sensitivity of the body's tissues—primarily the liver and muscles—to the action of insulin) and an inadequate amount of insulin being secreted by the pancreas. This leads to the body's inability to drive glucose into the cell to be utilized as energy, thereby raising blood sugar levels.

Nutrition plays multiple roles in managing Type 2 Diabetes. As in Type 1 Diabetes, it is critical to avoid concentrated simple sugar. If you have Type 2 Diabetes, eating (or drinking) concentrated sugar in amounts greater than a few grams will make your blood glucose rise to levels higher than your target range. The more often you indulge in concentrated sugar, the more frequently your blood glucose will rise above your target range, undermining your other efforts at maintaining control.

If your doctor thinks that you have type 2 diabetes, he or she will ask you questions about your medical history, do a physical exam, and order a blood glucose test. A blood glucose test is a blood test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood. The test is usually done first thing in the morning, before you eat or drink anything.

No, all forms of diabetes are serious. Diabetes can lead to serious complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and amputations. However, if diabetes is controlled, complications can be reduced or avoided.

Regular, moderately intense exercise helps to decrease body fat, which increases sensitivity to insulin. Increasing insulin sensitivity is always a good thing where Type 2 Diabetes is concerned. In addition to weight loss, moderately intense aerobic exercise increases sensitivity to insulin in essentially all tissues in the body.

Reach and maintain a reasonable weight. Even if you stay above your ideal weight, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight is enough to make a big difference. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, losing 10 to 14 pounds can greatly reduce your chance of getting diabetes. Follow a healthy eating plan. Eat more grains, fruits, and vegetables. Cut down on fat and calories. A dietitian can help you design a meal plan. Remind your health care team to check your blood glucose levels regularly.

If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes or if you have a condition called prediabetes-when your blood sugar levels are above normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes-you may be able to prevent or delay the disease by exercising regularly and changing the way you eat. Often, people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight and not physically active. By losing as few as 10 or 20 pounds, you can reduce your chances of developing diabetes.2

Family history of type 1 diabetes. Having a family history of the disease increases the chance that a person will have islet cell antibodies, but it does not predict that a person will have the disease. Only about 10% to 15% of people with type 1 diabetes have a family history of the disease.2 Race. White people have a greater risk for developing type 1 diabetes than black, Asian, or Hispanic people. Presence of islet cell antibodies in the blood.

The term diabetes mellitus comes from Greek words for "flow" and "honey", referring to the excess quot;juvenile-onset", but the onset up to age 40 is not uncommon and can even occur later. Patients the common (but now deprecated) terms "adult-onset" or "maturity-onset", but onset can occur at syndromes from types 1 and 2.

Obesity and inactivity often lead to type 2 Diabetes. Also, a family history and/or a history of diabetes while pregnant are strong predictors of acquiring type 2 Diabetes later in life. Blood sugar levels that remain elevated and poorly controlled can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, loss of limbs because of poor circulation, and early death.