Diabetes type 2Causes:

People with type 2 diabetes make insulin, but their cells don't use it as well as they should. Doctors call this insulin resistance.

At first, the pancreas makes more insulin to try to get glucose into the cells. But eventually it can't keep up, and the sugar builds up in your blood instead

Usually a combination of things cause type 2 diabetes, including:

1)Genes2)Extra weight

3 )Metabolic syndrome4 )Too much glucose from your liver.5)Bad communication between cells.

6)Broken beta cells

Risk Factors and Prevention:While certain things make getting diabetes more likely, they won't give you the disease. But the more that apply to you, the higher your chances of getting it are.Some things you can't control.

-Age: 45 or older-Family: A parent, sister, or brother with diabetes-Ethnicity: African-American, Alaska Native, Native

American, Asian-American, Hispanic or Latino, or Pacific Islander-American

-Some things are related to your health and medical history. Your doctor may be able to help.

-Prediabetes-Heart and blood vessel disease

-High blood pressure, even if it's treated and under control

-Low HDL ("good") cholesterol-High triglycerides

-Being overweight or obese-Having a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds

-Acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition with dark rashes around your neck or armpits

-Depression

Other risk factors have to do with your daily habits and lifestyle. These are the ones you can really do something about:

-Getting little or no exercise-Smoking

-Stress-Sleeping too little or too much

Simple changes at home can make a big difference, too:

-Loss of weight-Get active

-Eat right-Quit smoking

SymptomsThe symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be so mild that you don't notice them. In fact, about 8 million people who have it don't know it.

-Being very thirsty.-Peeing a lot.-Blurry vision.

-Being irritable.-Tingling or numbness in your hands or feet.

-Feeling worn out.-Wounds that don't heal.

-Yeast infections that keep coming back.

Getting a DiagnosisYour doctor can test your blood for signs of diabetes. Usually doctors will test you on two different days to confirm the diagnosis. But if your blood glucose is very high or you have a lot of symptoms, one test may be all you need.

A1C: It's like an average of your blood glucose over the past 2 or 3 months.

Fasting plasma glucose: This measures your blood sugar on an empty stomach. You won't be able to eat or drink anything except water for 8 hours before the test.

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): This checks your blood glucose before and 2 hours after you drink a sweet drink to see how your body handles the sugar.

Long-Term EffectsOver time, high blood sugar can damage and cause problems with your:

-Heart and blood vessels-Kidneys

-Eyes-Nerves, which can lead to trouble with digestion,

the feeling in your feet, and your sexual response-Wound healing

-Pregnancy

The best way to avoid these complications is to manage your diabetes well:

-Take your diabetes medications or insulin on time.-Check your blood glucose.

-Eat right, and don't skip meals.-See your doctor regularly to check for early signs of

trouble.