Marsh column - Type 2 diabetes

Q: Can you do another article on type 2 diabetes?

A: Yes. The last one was last summer, but unfortunately a lot more people got recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Here you go.

Type 2 diabetes, or diabetes mellitus type 2, is a metabolic disorder primarily characterized by insulin resistance, relative insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Or, in "plain English," it is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, the main type of sugar in your blood. Glucose comes from the foods we eat and is the major source of energy needed to fuel the body's functions.

After you eat a meal, the body breaks down the foods you ate into glucose and other nutrients, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract. After a meal, your glucose levels will rise and trigger the pancreas to make the hormone insulin and release it into the bloodstream to bring it back down. If your body doesn't make enough insulin or if the insulin doesn't work the way it should, blood sugar can't get into your cells and stays in your blood, raising your blood sugar level. It's important to keep your blood sugar controlled, because when too much sugar stays in your blood for a long time, it can cause a number of symptoms and health problems. Some complications of type 2 diabetes include heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage.

The following can be signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes:

- Increased thirst and frequent urination. Your kidneys' response to high blood sugar is to flush it out through urination.

- Extreme hunger. Without the insulin to move the glucose into your cells, your muscles and organs become depleted of energy, which triggers intense hunger. It may even persist after you have eaten.

- Weight loss. Even with an increased appetite and constant hunger, you may lose weight. Without the proper absorption into the cells, your muscles and fat stores may simply shrink.

- Fatigue. Deprived of sugar, you may become tired and irritable.

- Blurred vision. If your blood sugar is too high, fluid may be pulled from surrounding tissues — including the lenses of your eyes.

- Slow healing sores and/or frequent infections. Type 2 diabetes affects your ability to heal and fight infections.

Management of your type 2 diabetes includes:

- Using your medicines exactly as your doctor prescribes.- Making smart food choices. Learning what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat is a key part of learning to take care of your blood sugar levels. Choosing your food wisely can help you feel better from day to day; lose weight if you need to; and lower your risk of heart disease, stroke and other problems caused by diabetes.

- Being physically active. Participate in physical activity regularly. Exercise helps increase the body's response to insulin and it helps the body to burn more calories, which can promote the loss of excess body fat.

- Get to and maintain a normal body weight.

- Monitor your blood sugar levels often.

- And lastly, work closely with your doctor and diabetes health-care team.