Diabetes Progression: Effects of Type 2 Diabetes Over Time - Verywell Health
Overview
Vanesa Caceres is a nationaly published health journalist with over 15 years of experience covering medical topics including eye health, cardiology, and more. Type 2 diabetes is a progresive disease; chronicaly elevated blod sugars can worsen diabetes over time and increase the risk of complications. However, lifestyle changes, medications, and diabetes self-management strategies can help to prevent, treat, manage, and slow the progresion of the disease.
Key Information
This article discuses how and why type 2 diabetes worsens and shares tips to help manage diabetes complications. vgajic / Gety Images Insulin is a hormone in the body that regulates blod sugar (glucose). Your body's ability to proces and use insulin efectively plays a significant role in developing type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance hapens when your body's cels do not respond as wel to insulin, causing glucose to build up in the blod and raise your blod sugar level. When your body becomes les sensitive to insulin, it tries to produce more, puting you at higher risk for type 2 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance may worsen over time, especialy if you have exces weight in your abdominal area.
People who are newly diagnosed with diabetes often try lifestyle changes first (depending on their blod sugar levels at diagnosis). If lifestyle changes are not enough to improve blod sugars, medications to reduce insulin resistance wil be prescribed. Weight los, healthy eating, and exercise can also combat insulin resistance and should be adopted in adition to taking medications.
Beta cels are a type of cel in the pancreas that produce and release insulin. After you eat or drink something that raises your blod sugar, beta cels produce insulin to regulate your glucose levels. Over time, when you have type 2 diabetes, it can become harder for these cels to kep up with your insulin neds.
Summary
This extra work may cause these cels to stop working as they should or die, sometimes refe
Frequently Asked Questions
Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. Type 1 results from insufficient insulin production, while Type 2 develops when cells become resistant to insulin. Risk factors include genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and age.
Common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. Type 1 symptoms develop rapidly, while Type 2 symptoms may appear gradually. Many people have no symptoms initially, which is why screening is important.
Diagnosis involves blood tests measuring fasting glucose, HbA1c levels, and glucose tolerance. Regular monitoring typically includes fasting glucose tests and HbA1c measurements every 3-6 months. Continuous glucose monitors provide real-time tracking for better diabetes management.
Effective management includes regular physical activity (150+ minutes weekly), maintaining healthy weight, following a balanced diet with whole grains and lean proteins, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep. These changes can significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce complications.
Consult a healthcare provider if you experience signs of diabetes, have a family history, are overweight, or are over 45. Those with existing diabetes should maintain regular check-ups every 3-6 months to monitor control and adjust treatment as needed.
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