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Elaine Decker
Mrs. Rausch
Chemistry, Period 4
1 May 2014
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is
more related to a persons family history and lineage compared to its counterpart, type 1,
and has little to do with a persons environment (Type 2 Diabetes 1) (Genetics of
Diabetes - American Diabetes Association 1). Type 2 is responsible for ninety percent to
ninety-five percent of all cases of diabetes and is mainly found in adults, however, it is
increasingly becoming more common in children (Link for Life 1) (Type 2 Diabetes 1).
A child has a one in seven chance of being diagnosed with diabetes if one of their parents
carries the diseasean even higher chance if that parent is the mother. If both the childs
parents carry the disease, they have a one in two chance of obtaining it (Genetics of
Diabetes - American Diabetes Association 1). There are 18.9 million diagnosed cases of
diabetes, 7 million undiagnosed cases of diabetes, and 79 million prediabetic people. In
total, 8.3% of the United States population is diabetic (Statistics About Diabetes American Diabetes Association 1). Type 2 diabetes, both internally and externally,
affects the body, however, medication has been created to lessen, but not cure, the effects
of this disease.
In the body, the pancreas releases the hormone insulin after a person intakes food.
The food that is digested is broken down into glucose, which is then transferred by
insulin into the cells as energy (Link for Life 1). When a person has type 2 diabetes, their

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insulin either does not work properly
or their body is insulin resistant (Link
for Life 1). When someones body is
insulin resistant, their bodys
production of the hormone begins to
slow down (Link for Life 1). Without
insulin or the help of insulin, the body
cannot use food properly, ultimately affecting the way the body is able to absorb glucose
causing it to build up in the blood stream (Type 2 Diabetes 1).
When glucose begins to build up in a persons blood, it causes damage to the
persons small and large blood vessels (Link for Life 1). This can cause blurred vision,
bad circulation in the feet, hypertension (abnormally high arterial blood pressure), heart
disease, and stroke (The Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes 1) (Hypertension 1)
(Link for Life 1). Other symptoms that have been known to come with type 2 diabetes,
that are not directly related to the bodys blood vessels, are dyslipidemia (a condition
marked by abnormal concentrations of lipids or lipoproteins in the blood), obesity,
increased thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, fatigue, slow healing wounds, and
frequent infections (Type 2 Diabetes 1) (Dyslipidemia 1) (The Prevention or Delay
of Type 2 Diabetes 1). Some people who have diabetes have had to lose one or more of
their limbs due to the bad circulation in their feet. On top of that, people who have
diabetes already have microvascular disease whether their diabetes is diagnosed or
undiagnosed (The Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes 1).

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If someone is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, there are multiple ways for them to
improve their health, but there is no cure and no evidence that type 2 diabetes can be
avoided (The Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes 1). The biggest form of
medication is the insertion of insulin into the body orally or by shot (Link for Life 1). This
lets the body make up for the insulin it lacks and/or helps get the body to cooperate with
the insulin and help the glucose be transferred into energy (Link for Life 1). Other
methods include diabetic pills, high blood pressure pills (used to prevent kidney diseases
and lower the chances of heart attack or stroke), high cholesterol pills, and aspirin (used
to thin the blood so it does not clog blood vessels) (Link for Life 1). According to the
American Diabetes Associations Link for Life video, the best way to help with a persons
type 2 diabetes is to take care of their ABCs. The ABCs include getting their A1C
checked, watching their blood pressure, and managing their LDL cholesterol (Link for
Life 1). Most of these can be managed with exercise and healthy eating habits. Exercise
helps lower their blood glucose, their weight, and helps bring their blood pressure and
cholesterol levels back to normal (Link for Life 1). However, the normalization of blood
glucose of any appreciable period of time is seldom achieved (The Prevention or Delay
of Type 2 Diabetes 1).
Overall, diabetes, if not taken care of, can be fatal and bring a persons life to an
early end. Yet, if a person takes care of himself or herself its quite a manageable disease.
If a person contracts the disease, there are many warning signs that may go unnoticed and
its important for a person to regularly check their glucose levels, especially if the disease
runs in their family and/or they are of a higher age. Type 2 diabetes may affect the body

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in many ways but there are also many ways to combat it and its better to be wary of the
disease than try to deny the chances of it being diagnosed.

Work Cited

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"Dyslipidemia." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/dyslipidemia>.
"Genetics of Diabetes - American Diabetes Association." American Diabetes Association.
American Diabetes Association, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genetics-of-diabetes.html>.
"Hypertension." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 01 May 2014.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/hypertension>.
Link for Life. American Diabetes Association. American Diabetes Association, n.d. Web.
17 Apr. 2014. <http://web.diabetes.org/link/link_for_life/main.html?loc=factsabout-type2>.
"The Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes." Diabetes Care 25.4 (2002): 742-49. Print.
"Statistics About Diabetes - American Diabetes Association." American Diabetes
Association. American Diabetes Association, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/>.
"Type 2 Diabetes." Definition. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,
n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2diabetes/basics/definition/con-20031902>.
"Type 2 Diabetes." Symptoms. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,
n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2
diabetes/basics/symptoms/con-20031902>.

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