This chronic and incurable metabolic disease is also commonly referred to as adult-onset diabetes, as it primarily affects older people.
This has changed recently due to changing lifestyle habits: Younger adults, teenagers and children are increasingly affected by this diabetes (Diabetes mellitus) affected.
In Germany alone, around 7 million people suffer from Type 2 diabetes, approximately 300.000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year.
In type 2Diabetes the concentration of sugar in the blood is temporarily or permanently increased (hyperglycemia). The cause is a relative insulin deficiency, an absolute insulin deficiency, insulin resistance or a combination of these disorders.
The hormone insulin is produced in the pancreas and regulates the transfer of sugar (glucose) from the blood vessels into the body's cells.
If muscle, liver and fat cells become insensitive to insulin over time (insulin resistance), a relative insulin deficiency occurs, which the pancreas tries to compensate for by producing more insulin. Insulin levels can therefore be normal or even elevated, but there is too little insulin in relation to the blood sugar levels. If insulin production in the pancreas stops, the patient suffers from an absolute insulin deficiency: there is actually too little insulin. The patient must compensate for this by regularly administering insulin.
Obesity and lack of exercise cause type 2 diabetes
The main causes of type 2 diabetes are:
- Obesity, physical inactivity: the fatty tissue of the abdominal cavity increases and the proportion of free fatty acids in the blood rises;
- genetic predisposition;
- Medications such as cortisone, diuretics (thiazides), blood pressure lowering drugs (beta-blockers), ovulation inhibitors, antidepressants;
- pregnancy (gestational diabetes);
- liver diseases;
- physical stress factors (infections, injuries, operations);
- Hormonal imbalances.
Diabetes mellitus usually develops over years and is often diagnosed too late because it initially manifests itself in non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, visual disturbances and an increased susceptibility to infections. Poorly controlled diabetes also leads to secondary damage that is often irreversible:
- cardiovascular diseases (Heart attack, Stroke) because of the increased risk of arteriosclerosis,
- Kidney disease, renal failure,
- Eye diseases up to blindness,
- diabetic foot.
To determine type 2 diabetes, the internist measures blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c levels, and sugar and protein in the urine.
The thorough check-up at the Bornheim practice clinic also includes measuring arterial blood pressure, determining cholesterol and blood fat levels (triglycerides). We also examine whether organ damage to the eyes, kidneys, nervous system or blood vessels, which is typical of diabetes, is imminent.
timely prevention is therefore recommended, because once you get diabetes, you have to fundamentally change your lifestyle: A varied and balanced diet (nutritional advice) and plenty of exercise are essential to improve blood sugar levels and reduce existing insulin resistance. Patients also learn how to control their blood sugar independently, how to avoid hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia (diabetic coma) and how to take the right immediate measures.
