Type 2 diabetes is most often diagnosed in people over the age of 40 who are obese and/or sedentary. The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are rather vague and not disruptive to the point of becoming a problem. Many people have Type 2 diabetes for years before the problem is discovered.

The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are distinctive and yet may still be vague:

* Increased thirst and frequent urination

* Extreme hunger

* Weight loss

* Fatigue

* Blurred vision

* Slow-healing sores or frequent infections

Type 2 diabetes is rarely insulin dependent. Usually Type 2 diabetes can be controlled simply by making adjustments to the diet, increasing exercise, and losing weight. Sometimes oral medications are also required.

The complications that are associated with Type 2 diabetes are much like those that are associated with Type 1 diabetes. Some complications that can be caused by Type 2 diabetes are heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy).

Information is the best weapon that you can have when you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. You must learn what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. You must learn how to test your blood to determine the blood sugar level. You must stop smoking, and you must decrease the amount of alcohol that you consume. Most of the complications that are associated with Type 2 diabetes can be avoided when the patient is willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes.

As lifestyle changes are implemented, the medication can be decreased or even eliminated. But that doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. You will still need to stick with the lifestyle changes that affected the improvement.