Diabetes
What Happens in Type 2 Diabetes?
What goes wrong?
Problem with insulin. The body does not use insulin well, or does not make enough of it.
What happens in the blood?
Why does it matter?
High blood sugar over time can damage: Eyes, Kidneys, Nerves, Heart, and Blood Vessels.
Risk Factors
Obesity
PCOS (for females)
Unhealthy diet
Physical Inactivity
Family History of Diabetes
Age
How Do You Know If You Have Diabetes?
Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests:
Fasting Blood Sugar Test (≥100 mg/dL)
Post-prandial Blood Sugar Test (≥140 md/dL)
HbA1c Test (≥6.5%)
Random Blood Sugar Test (≥200 mg/dL)
What is the HbA1C Test?
The glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test provides an average of blood glucose levels over the past 2 or 3 months.
Less Than 5.7%
Normal Range
5.7% to 6.4%
Prediabetes or Risk of Hyperglycemia
6.5% or Higher
Diebetes Mellitus or Hyperglycemia
What needs to be managed to keep blood sugar in control?
Read more about type 2 diabetes below or go to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) website for more information.
Diabesity
“Diabesity” is a term used to describe the strong link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. Extra body fat, especially around the abdomen, makes it harder for the body to use insulin properly, leading to higher blood sugar levels.
Fat tissue releases substances that reduce the body’s response to insulin, a condition called insulin resistance. Over time, the pancreas works harder to produce more insulin, and this can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
People with excess weight have a much higher risk of developing diabetes. Managing body weight helps improve insulin action, supports better blood sugar control, and reduces the risk of complications.