Type 2 diabetes, also once known as adult-onset diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes blood sugar (also called blood glucose). It is also the most common type of diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, your body is either resistant to insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar into your cells) or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. This keeps glucose in the blood stream and prevents it from entering the cells.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, or are overweight or obese. Diabetes has also shown to be more common in people who are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander. Type 2 diabetes is mostly diagnosed in adults but is increasingly more prevalent in children as childhood obesity rates continue to rise.

Signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes can develop slowly, often over the course of several years. In fact, you can live with type 2 diabetes for years with symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed. If type 2 diabetes is a concern or possibility, be on the lookout for:
● Increased thirst and frequent urination
● Increased hunger
● Unexpected weight loss
● Fatigue
● Blurred vision
These are some but not all possible symptoms of type 2 diabetes. A professional medical evaluation is needed for diagnosis.

There is never a guarantee that certain people will develop type 2 diabetes but some are at a higher risk than others. Risk factors to keep in mind include:
● Obesity
● Greater fat distribution on abdomen
● Sedentary lifestyle
● Family history
● Race
● Older age (45+)
● Diagnosed with prediabetes
Again, this is not a complete list of all possible conditions that put one at risk for type 2 diabetes. An expert analysis is necessary.

While a healthy diet and regular exercise are great habits to live by, type 2 diabetes may still develop in some people. If you would like learn more about type 2 diabetes and identify whether you may be eligible for our research study, give us a call at 212-480-3333.