Diabetes results from a lack of a hormone that stimulates cells to take up (a type of sugar) from the bloodstream. Cells need glucose as fuel to produce energy. lack insulin because their immune systems destroy the pancreatic cells that produce it. Type 2 diabetics progress through two stages of the disease. In the first stage, called “insulin resistance”, cells no longer respond to insulin. The pancreas compensates for this resistance by producing more insulin. As insulin resistance persists, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to keep up with the increased demand. The pancreas eventually shuts down insulin production altogether, resulting in type 2 diabetes.
Without sugar that can be converted to energy, cells starve and glucose levels build up in the blood, which can lead to life-threatening complications such as cardiovascular disease. Since fat interferes with the body’s ability to process insulin and overweight people are at increased risk for the disease, type 2 diabetes is sometimes called “obesity-related” diabetes. Type 2 diabetics are encouraged to carefully monitor their diet and exercise in order to prevent dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
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