Type II Diabetes: Non Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

January 19, 2010

Type II Diabetes: Non Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

The term diabetes refers to higher than normal levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Type II diabetes, also known as NON insulin-dependent diabetes, was commonly referred to as adult onset diabetes until recently when the name no longer accurately describes the population with this disease.

Kids with type 2 diabetes

Type II diabetes, in the past, was relegated to the adult population. However, in the new era of ever rising cases of childhood obesity and heart disease, the term adult onset diabetes is quickly becoming a misnomer. The number of children that are presenting to doctors with this disease is rising at epidemic rates.

Unlike Type I diabetes, where there is little to no insulin being produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, in Type II diabetes there is plenty of insulin. The problem lies in the fact that the cells of the body no longer respond to the insulin. The normal response is to cause gates in the cell membranes to open and letting the sugar in from the blood stream. Since this is not occurring, the sugar levels in the blood remain extremely high and the cells are deprived of the necessary energy that they would normally derive from the sugar.

Additionally, as Type II diabetes is sometimes not diagnosed for many years, the pancreas will sometimes stop producing insulin all together since the body sees no need to make something that can’t be used.

Many professionals are prescribing changes in diet and increased activity levels as the medicine needed to help reverse some of the non-responsiveness of the cells to insulin. Making lifestyle changes can dramatically improve the overall health of the patient as well. To augment adjustments in nutrition and exercise, doctors can also prescribe diabetes medication which assists to increase the responsiveness of the cells to the insulin that the body may still be producing.

If left untreated, Type II diabetes can eventually decrease the quality of life and life span of the patient.

Rachel Dayer runs and operates http://www.mustask.com, a health related portal.

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Comments

Willow Andrews

12/20/2007 at 1:39 pm

This article needs to be corrected – type II diabetes is also known as NON insulin dependent diabetes.

Reply
Dave Feland

05/11/2009 at 1:49 pm

Actually – I’d go with the original name. I’m type-2 and I’m definately insulin-dependant – and there’s many type-2 diabetics that take insulin. Calling it “non-insulin dependant” is definately wrong.

Reply
ljrscience

01/26/2010 at 10:24 am

Here is some interesting info about a clinical research study now enrolling people with Type 2 Diabetes who struggle to control their blood sugar levels. This study is going on at various study centers around the US. You can find more info here: http://www.DiabetesStudies.org

Lisa

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