What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes means your body is insulin-resistant. At first, your body produces insulin but does not use that insulin correctly. After time, your pancreas, which is the only organ that produces insulin, is no longer able to make it all. If you have type 2 diabetes, you are not alone. More than 9 out of every ten people with diabetes have type 2. In the U.S. and in Harlem, the number of cases of type 2 diabetes have increased during the last 30 years.

There are several risk factors that make it more likely that you'll develop type 2 diabetes. You are at greater risk if you:

• Are overweight or obese

• Have been diagnosed with prediabetes

• Are not physically active

• Have a family history of type 2 diabetes

• Developed gestational diabetes during your pregnancy

• Are African American, Hispanic, Asian American, or American Indian

Type 2 diabetes can cause serious health problems. Read the factsheet about diabetes for a list of these problems.

What can I do to prevent it?

Making healthy choices about what you eat and exercising regularly can lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. For more information on making healthy choices, click here to read "Easy Tips for Living a Healthy Life."

It's also important to know what signs and symptoms could mean you have type 2 diabetes. Talk to a doctor if you notice that you are:

• Very hungry or thirsty, even after you eat or drink
• Losing weight, even if you're eating more
• Unusually tired or cranky
• Unable to focus your eyes or have blurred vision
• Not seeing your sores heal as quickly as usual or getting infections more often

How is it treated?

Eating right and exercising not only help you prevent type 2 diabetes, but can also help you stay healthy and avoid dangerous complications if you already have it. Often, you also need to take pills or inject insulin, which helps your body regulate your blood sugar.

The most important things that you can do to treat your type 2 diabetes are to work with a doctor, keep track of your blood sugar, eat right, exercise, and take your medication or insulin. See "The 5 Keys to Living a Healthy Life with Diabetes" for more information.

Did you Know? Is a series of health articles written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.