Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease, which is characterized by increased blood sugar levels. It is also called adult-onset diabetes. This is because it almost always occurs in middle and late adulthood. Type 2 diabetes is much more prevalent than type 1 diabetes. Food is broken down into its simple elements during digestion. Simple sugars, primarily glucose, are formed when carbohydrates are broken down. Glucose is an absolutely essential source of energy for the cells in the body. Glucose must leave the blood and enter the cells to provide energy. As it travels through the blood, insulin signals cells to take up glucose. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. When blood glucose levels rise (for example, after eating), the pancreas produces more insulin.
Type 2 diabetes develops when your body's cells resist taking glucose from the blood into the cells. This is called Insulin resistance. As an outcome, glucose accumulates in the blood, which is called Type 2 diabetes mellitus. To maintain a normal blood sugar level, the pancreas makes more insulin to signal and get cells to respond. When your pancreas can no longer keep up, your blood sugar levels rise, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar levels are harmful to the body and can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.
Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 2 diabetes symptoms frequently develop over time, and it can go unnoticed for a long time. They are often related to increased blood sugar levels, and symptoms include
- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirst and hunger
- Weight loss
- Numbness in hands and feets
- Getting more infections
- Wounds that don’t heal faster
- Blurred vision
- Dark rashes around neck and armpit
Causes Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 2 diabetes is caused primarily by two interrelated problems. Insulin resistance develops in muscle, fat, and liver cells. These cells do not take in enough sugar because they do not normally interact with insulin. The other is when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to manage normal blood sugar levels. The exact cause fo this remains unknown but being overweight and inactive are two main contributing factors
Risk Factors Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
The following factors may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes:
- Being overweight and living a sedentary lifestyle
- Abnormal fat distribution
- Gene and family history
- Age
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Pregnancy-related risks
Managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Even if medications are required, diet and Exercise always remain the best option for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oral metformin remains the first-line treatment option for type 2 diabetes. Other medications like sulfonylureas, glinides, thiazolidinediones, DPP-4 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors may also be given in combination with metformin to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to new guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), physicians should consider adding either a GLP-1 receptor agonist or SGLT-2 inhibitor if blood sugar levels are still high despite taking metformin or if a person has an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Forxiga 10 mg Tablet is an antidiabetic drug with its active constituent dapagliflozin. It belongs to the category of Sodium-glucose co-transport (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Forxiga 10 mg tablet works by blocking the kidney’s ability to reabsorb sugar. By doing this, blood sugar, salts and water are eliminated from your body via urine. This, in turn, decreases blood sugar levels. Common side effects of this medication include urinary tract infection, vaginal yeast infection, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
