Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInsulin ResistanceBeta Cell DysfunctionVascular Cell ComplicationsEnd-Stage DiabetesSlowing the ProgressionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Insulin Resistance
Beta Cell Dysfunction
Vascular Cell Complications
End-Stage Diabetes
Slowing the Progression
Frequently Asked Questions
Type 2 diabetesis a progressive disease; chronically elevated blood 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 progression of the disease.
This article discusses how and why type 2 diabetes worsens and shares tips to help manage diabetes complications.
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Insulinis a hormone in the body that regulates blood sugar (glucose). Your body’s ability to process and use insulin effectively plays a significant role in developing type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistancehappens when your body’s cells do not respond as well to insulin, causing glucose to build up in the blood and raise your blood sugar level.When your body becomes less sensitive to insulin, it tries to produce more, putting you at higherrisk for type 2 diabetes.
If you have type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance may worsen over time, especially if you have excess weight in your abdominal area. People who are newly diagnosed with diabetes often try lifestyle changes first (depending on their blood sugar levels at diagnosis). If lifestyle changes are not enough to improve blood sugars, medications to reduce insulin resistance will be prescribed.
Weight loss, healthy eating, and exercise can also combat insulin resistance and should be adopted in addition to taking medications.
Beta cells are a type of cell in thepancreasthat produce and release insulin. After you eat or drink something that raises your blood sugar, beta cells produce insulin to regulate your glucose levels.
Over time, when you have type 2 diabetes, it can become harder for these cells to keep up with your insulin needs. This extra work may cause these cells to stop working as they should or die, sometimes referred to as beta cell dysfunction.
As type 2 diabetes progresses, it affects the body in many ways. Below are the most common ways that diabetes affects your health.
Neuropathy
About half of people with diabetes (all types of diabetes, not just type 2) report neuropathy as asymptom of diabetes.
Medications, physical therapy, and occupational therapy are some ways to help manage neuropathy. Achieving good glycemic control, exercising, and not smoking can also improve neuropathy.
Retinopathy
Theretina, a light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eyes, has tiny blood vessels. Too much glucose in the body can make those blood vessels swell, leak, or even grow new blood vessels. This is known asdiabetic retinopathy.
In its early stages, retinopathy may have no symptoms.Vision changesor seeing dark spots or streaks are symptoms in later stages.Retinopathy can lead to vision loss and blindness if untreated, so if you have diabetes, it’s vital to get a comprehensiveeye examannually or as often as your eye doctor advises.
The most common causes of diabetic retinopathy include chronically elevated blood sugars, duration of diabetes, and high blood pressure. The risk for retinopathy increases over time with the condition and affects more than half of people with diabetes.
Kidney Disease
Almost 1 in 3 people with diabetes havekidney disease. In fact, it is the most common cause of kidney disease and a leading cause ofkidney failure.
In those with diabetes, high glucose can cause damage to blood vessels in the kidneys. High blood pressure, common among people with diabetes, also damages the kidneys.
Risk factors that increase the chance of kidney disease include:
The risk for kidney disease is also higher among Black, American Indian, or Latino populations.
You should check your kidneys once a year if you have type 2 diabetes. This is done through urine and blood tests.
Coronary Disease
The chance of developingheart disease, includingcoronary artery disease(the most common type of heart disease), doubles when you have diabetes.This risk increases the longer you have diabetes.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and too little physical activity are associated with a higher risk for coronary disease. So are smoking and being overweight.
Having diabetes also raises the chances of heart issues, including heart failure andarrhythmias(heart rhythm problems), such asatrial fibrillation(irregular heart rhythm).
Regular blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight checks can help your healthcare provider determine if you need specific heart tests. Stayingphysically activeand eating ahealthy dietare two ways to watch out for your heart health.
Stroke
Astrokeis an interruption of blood flow to the brain that can cause brain damage, movement problems, and emotional issues.If not treated quickly enough, it can be fatal.
If you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely to have a stroke as those without the condition.Too much glucose in the blood over time can lead to more fatty deposits, or clots, in your blood vessels; these increase the risk for stroke when you have diabetes.
Your risk for stroke is higher if you:
There is also a higher prevalence of stroke in people with diabetes who are Black or over age 55.
By monitoring your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol regularly with a healthcare provider—and making lifestyle changes to keep your numbers in the good range—you can lower your risk for stroke.
Improving Your Quality of Life When You Have Diabetes
Here are some ways you can improve your quality of life when you have diabetes:
It’s not common to die from diabetes. However, it is more common to have diabetes-related complications, like coronary heart disease or stroke, that could lead to death.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take when you have type 2 diabetes toprevent complicationsand lower your risk for heart disease, kidney disease, and other health issues.
Crafting a Meal Plan for People With Type 2 Diabetes
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease that can cause damage over time, especially when blood sugars are poorly controlled and chronically elevated. This can lead to damage throughout the body, including the eyes, kidneys, and other areas, and multiple complications. Having type 2 diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
A Word From Verywell
Having diabetes is not a guarantee that you will have serious health problems. If you keep your blood sugar under control and monitor other health numbers, such as blood pressure and high cholesterol, that can go a long way toward staying healthy. By following recommended appointments with healthcare providers, you can catch potential issues early on and get treated for them.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes, people with diabetes live longer and have fewer complications with good diabetes management.Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, weight management, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and stress management make a difference. While it’s still possible to have diabetes complications if you’re making healthy choices, they usually go a long way toward preventing diabetes from worsening.Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes TreatmentWith type 2 diabetes, your body becomes resistant to its own insulin. As a result, the body’s beta cells produce more insulin to compensate for this resistance. However, beta cells can’t keep up with the body’s insulin needs. This leads to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin Resistance?Type 2 diabetes is associated with a six-year loss in life expectancy compared to those without the condition.Healthy lifestyle choices can help increase life expectancy when you have type 2 diabetes. Keep in mind that everyone’s journey with diabetes is different, and predicting generalized life expectancy is nearly impossible.Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Yes, people with diabetes live longer and have fewer complications with good diabetes management.Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, weight management, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and stress management make a difference. While it’s still possible to have diabetes complications if you’re making healthy choices, they usually go a long way toward preventing diabetes from worsening.Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes Treatment
Yes, people with diabetes live longer and have fewer complications with good diabetes management.Lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, weight management, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and stress management make a difference. While it’s still possible to have diabetes complications if you’re making healthy choices, they usually go a long way toward preventing diabetes from worsening.
Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes Treatment
With type 2 diabetes, your body becomes resistant to its own insulin. As a result, the body’s beta cells produce more insulin to compensate for this resistance. However, beta cells can’t keep up with the body’s insulin needs. This leads to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin Resistance?
With type 2 diabetes, your body becomes resistant to its own insulin. As a result, the body’s beta cells produce more insulin to compensate for this resistance. However, beta cells can’t keep up with the body’s insulin needs. This leads to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Learn MoreWhat Is Insulin Resistance?
Type 2 diabetes is associated with a six-year loss in life expectancy compared to those without the condition.Healthy lifestyle choices can help increase life expectancy when you have type 2 diabetes. Keep in mind that everyone’s journey with diabetes is different, and predicting generalized life expectancy is nearly impossible.Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes is associated with a six-year loss in life expectancy compared to those without the condition.Healthy lifestyle choices can help increase life expectancy when you have type 2 diabetes. Keep in mind that everyone’s journey with diabetes is different, and predicting generalized life expectancy is nearly impossible.
Learn MoreType 2 Diabetes Symptoms
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Insulin resistance and diabetes.
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What is diabetic neuropathy?
National Eye Institute.At a glance: diabetic retinopathy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diabetic kidney disease.
National Kidney Foundation.Does type 2 diabetes increase your risk for kidney disease? Yes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes and your heart.
American Diabetes Association.Cardiovascular disease.
American Diabetes Association.Get serious about stroke prevention.
American Stroke Association.Diabetes and stroke prevention.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Manage your diabetes for life.
James J.Dying well with diabetes.Ann Paliat Med. 2019;8(2):178-189. doi: 10.21037/apm.2018.12.10
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Put the brakes on diabetes complications.
Kianmehr H, Zhang P, Luo J, et al.Potential gains in life expectancy associated with achieving treatment goals in us adults with type 2 diabetes.JAMA Netw Open.2022;5(4):e227705. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7705
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