Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, which used to be called adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, is the most common form of diabetes.
About 85% - 95% of people with diabetes have type 2. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not use it effectively.1 Type 2 diabetes occurs more commonly in people with a family history of diabetes (a "genetic predisposition"). Type 2 diabetes may be the result of being overweight and inactive and usually occurs in adults. However an increasing number of children and adolescents have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in recent years1
Symptoms of diabetes are often less obvious in people with type 2 diabetes than in people with type 1 diabetes. Many people with type 2 diabetes will have no symptoms at all and may go undiagnosed for many years. Unfortunately, sometimes people have complications of diabetes at the time of diagnosis as a result.1,2
Food, physical activity and medication all have an effect on blood glucose levels. Checking your blood glucose levels (self-monitoring of blood glucose, also known as SMBG) will help you to manage your condition. Tracking your blood glucose levels can guide you in making changes to your meal plan, your activity and medication to help you to achieve and maintain blood glucose levels within your target range.3 The information can also help you and your diabetes care team make treatment changes as needed.3 Your healthcare professional will discuss your individual blood glucose target range with you. For most nonpregnant adults, the Diabetes UK recommends a blood glucose target range of 3.5 - 5.5 mmol/L when testing before a meal, and a blood glucose target of less than 8 mmol/L when testing after a meal.
Source:
1Diabetes.org.uk, 2012: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/What-is-diabetes/What-is-Type-2-Diabetes/
2NHS, UK, 2012: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes/Pages/Diabetes.aspx
3Diabetes.org.uk, 2012: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Monitoring/Testing/
