Type 2 diabetes Health Article

Support Groups

For additional information, see diabetes resources.

Expectations (prognosis)

The risk of long-term complications from diabetes can be reduced. If you control your blood glucose and blood pressure, you can reduce your risk of death, stroke, heart failure, and other complications. Reduction of HbA1c by even 1% can decrease your risk for complications by 25%.

Complications

Emergency complications include diabetic coma.

Long-term complications include:

• Diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)
• Diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease)
• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Peripheral vascular disease (damage to blood vessels/circulation)
• High cholesterol, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider immediately if you have:

• Trembling
• Weakness
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Double vision
• Lack of coordination

These symptoms can rapidly progress to emergency conditions (such as convulsions, unconsciousness, or hypoglycemic coma).

Prevention

Everyone over 45 should have blood glucose checked at least every 3 years. Regular testing of random blood glucose should begin at a younger age and be performed more often if you are at particular risk for diabetes.

Maintain a healthy body weight and keep an active lifestyle to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

References

Psaty BM, Furberg CD. Rosiglitazone and Cardiovascular Risk. N Engl J Med. 2007 May 21; [Epub ahead of print].

Rao G. Insulin resistance syndrome. Am Fam Physician. 2001 Mar 15;63(6):1159-63, 1165-6.

Watson S, Miller K. Encyclopedia of the Human Body: The Endocrine System. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing, 2004.

Larson PR, Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, et al. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 10th ed. St. Louis, MO: WB Saunders; 2003.