Switch to Digit Insurance

Trusted by 2 crore Indians

1 Year Waiting Period

Health
Car
Bike
Commercial
COVID-19 covered

Travel
More

Enter Your Car Registration number

Mobile Number

+91

Enter Mobile Number to Proceed

+91

OR ENTER YOUR CAR NUMBER

DON'T KNOW YOUR CAR NUMBER?

or renew digit policy

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Registration Number

Previous policy expiry

Not Expired

Expired

DON'T KNOW REGISTRATION NUMBER?

I KNOW MY REGISTRATION NUMBER

IT'S A NEW BIKE

OR RENEW DIGIT POLICY

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Which countries are you visiting?

Most Popular(You can select more than one)

Leaving date

Return date

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

As mandated by Spanish Authorities your travel insurance needs to extend 15 days after your trip ends.
We will extend your coverage period accordingly.

Pin Code

In case, you wish to buy a plan for your siblings, aunts, uncles or any other relatives, you can buy a separate plan for them.

Add Members you want to insure

Mobile Number

Port my existing Policy

or renew digit policy

You can select more than one member

-+ Max kids

(s)

Registration Number

Mobile Number

+91

City

Mobile Number

+91

OR ENTER YOUR REGISTRATION NUMBER

DON'T KNOW YOUR REGISTRATION NUMBER

or renew digit policy

I agree to the Terms & Conditions

Switch to Digit Insurance

Type 2 Diabetes – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

There are multiple lifelong health conditions that require continuous treatment and therapy. Type 2 diabetes is one such medical condition. It is generally associated with high blood sugar levels. However, it is one of the many types of diabetes that cause similar inconveniences.

Curious about the details of this disease?

Go through our explanation on the symptoms, causes, and treatments of this health condition to help yourself or a friend.

Let’s begin!

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

type 2 diabetes — (Source: media.istockphoto)

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition in which individuals experience high blood glucose levels. Also called diabetes mellitus type 2, this medical condition results from the body cells’ inability to respond normally to the hormone insulin.

Insulin is a peptide hormone secreted in the pancreas. It is responsible for glycogenesis, i.e., the conversion of glucose to glycogen. In this process, insulin helps the body to utilise its sugar intake by converting it into energy. With improper functioning of insulin, a body’s glucose content remains unused, leading to high blood sugar levels.

In advanced stages, a patient’s body may even stop producing adequate insulin. If left untreated, type 2 diabetes symptoms can worsen and lead to serious complications.

What are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

Initial diabetes type 2 symptoms can be very mild, to the point where they aren’t distinguishable. However, if you suspect that you might be affected, here is a list of early symptoms to look out for.

Progressing weight loss
Frequent urination
Feeling tired and lacking energy
The feeling of dryness in the mouth
Increased thirst
Excessive hunger
Blurry vision

In its advanced stages, some of the following symptoms may become increasingly prominent.

An itchy and tingling sensation in hands and feet
Neuropathy or a feeling of numbness
Injuries take longer to heal
Periodic yeast infections
Foot pain
Acanthosis nigricans or dark patches of skin around your neck or armpit

Most patients tend to overlook the common symptoms of type 2 diabetes, due to their mild nature. However, if you encounter two or more of the more serious symptoms mentioned above, consult a medical practitioner. Seeking medical aid can help you prevent adverse outcomes of this chronic condition. At the same time, tackling these symptoms can be a lot easier upon understanding their causes.

What are the Causes of Type 2 Diabetes?

As already discussed, type 2 diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to respond to insulin as it should. If you are beginning to become diabetic, your body cells will first try to produce more insulin to maintain glucose levels. When it eventually fails to do so, the glucose levels begin to build up in your bloodstream.

The reason why your body might fail to utilise insulin-like healthy individuals can be a result of several factors. These include:

Genetic predisposition: Genes play a primary role in deciding how likely an individual is to develop type 2 diabetes. For example, if your family has a history of developing diabetes mellitus, you already have a high probability of becoming prone to this disease.
Miscommunication between body cells: All bodies function based on the neurological messages transferred between different cells. There can be times when these cells fail to produce or pick up the correct signals. This can affect the way your body utilises blood glucose content. A prolonged miscommunication between cells can lead to a chronic condition like diabetes.
Dysfunctional pancreatic beta cells: The beta cells of your pancreas are responsible for secreting the hormone insulin. The wrong amount of insulin production at improper times can disrupt blood glucose levels. Also, prolonged instances of high blood sugar levels can, in turn, damage these cells further.

These are some of the common causes of diabetes type 2. However, the actual cause affecting a particular patient to develop this condition can only be determined by a proper diagnosis.

How is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?

Healthcare professionals can opt for any of the following methods for type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Have a look!

Fasting blood sugar test: This test determines a patient’s blood sugar level when they have an empty stomach. Doctors generally ask patients to get this test done early in the morning before breakfast. This way, your body gets at least 8 hours of total fasting while sleeping. You cannot eat or drink anything but water during this period before the test.
Oral glucose tolerance test: This test measures your blood sugar levels prior to and 2 hours after digesting a sweet drink. This way, doctors can determine your body’s mechanism while handling sugar.
A1c: Another of the various type 2 diabetes diagnostic tests, this diagnosis figures out an average of your blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months.

If you have been displaying multiple symptoms of type 2 diabetes, and the condition has already progressed far, any of the above tests will be enough to confirm the condition.

However, if you are still unsure of your health condition, you must check the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. This way, you can know which factors can make you more prone to this health condition.

Type 2 Diabetes – Risk Factors

There are several pre-existing health conditions that can make for significant risks of type 2 diabetes. These are as follows:

Obesity: Being overweight is synonymous with obesity, and this condition puts individuals at increased risk of developing diabetes.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Women with this condition, characterised by obesity, excessive hair growth, and irregular menstruation, are prone to diabetes mellitus.
Gestational diabetes: This is a medical condition in which an individual’s blood glucose levels shoot up during pregnancy. This condition generally disappears after giving birth. However, if you have experienced this condition, you might be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Mental health condition: Both depression and diabetes are results of hormonal imbalance and are interdependent conditions. Having one automatically increases the chances of developing the other.
Heart conditions: Low HDL levels, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and any other condition of heart and blood vessels are risk factors.

Besides the above factors, habits like smoking, excess or scanty sleep, too much stress, and a sedentary lifestyle can increase the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

What is the Life Expectancy for Type 2 Diabetes Patients?

The life expectancy of a patient with type 2 diabetes varies greatly, depending on several factors. There is no hard and fast time limit for which such an individual can expect to live. It largely depends on an affected individual’s age of diagnosis, lifestyle, and medical interventions.

For example, an individual with a sedentary lifestyle and smoking habit will have a shorter life expectancy. On the other hand, a diabetic patient leading an active and healthy life can expect to live longer.

Additionally, confirmed diagnosis at a younger age, say 15, is likely to take away more years of this individual’s life, say 12 approximately. On the other hand, an older individual, say aged 65, will lose fewer years, say 2, to a diabetes diagnosis.

Which age group is at most risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

Although people of all ages can develop this health condition due to many factors, a specific age group is more prone to this. This group comprises people aged over 45 years. Individuals belonging to this age group should take the initiatives to avoid this health condition to the maximum possible. These initiatives include maintaining a healthy diet and involving yourself in more activity.

In case you are diagnosed with this condition even after taking preventive measures, you can curb its severity with effective type 2 diabetes treatment.

What are the Treatments available for Type 2 Diabetes?

The best treatment for type 2 diabetes comes in the form of effective lifestyle changes. These include:

Regular exercise
Losing weight
Maintaining a healthy diet

Besides, diabetic patients need to stay on continuous medical treatment. Some of the common medications include:

Insulin shots
DPP-4 inhibitors
SGLT2 inhibitors
Metformin
Meglitinides
Sulfonylureas
Thiazolidinediones
GLP-1 receptor agonists

In spite of making the required lifestyle changes and taking proper medications, your blood sugar levels might fluctuate over time. This is why doctors advise keeping up with regular tests to monitor periodical blood glucose levels. Accordingly, they can modify treatment procedures for patients and advise necessary steps. Regular testing can also help patients stay up-to-date and avoid complications of type 2 diabetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ What are the complications of type 2 diabetes?

High blood sugar levels, if left untreated for long, can lead to other health conditions concerning body organs like kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, teeth, brains, and nerves, among others.

✓ How can I prevent myself from developing adverse outcomes of type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetic patients must prioritise taking timely medications, and eating proper meals. Additionally, you must visit your doctor and get all tests done regularly to keep your blood sugar levels in check.

✓ Can yoga help control symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

Yes, any kind of physical activity, including yoga, can help manage the effects of diabetes mellitus. Consult with your healthcare professional to decide on the right plan for you.

Other Important Articles about Diabetes

What is Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Type 2 Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

World Diabetes Day

Diabetic Foot: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Diabetes Symptoms in Men & Women

Different Types of Diabetes Tests

Eye Problems due to Diabetes

Diet to Control Gestational Diabetes during Pregnancy

Exercise for Diabetes Patients

Best Food to Control Diabetes

Show more

Important Articles related to Different Diseases

Novel Coronavirus

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

Vector Borne Diseases

What is Diabetes?

What is Tuberculosis?

All about Breast Cancer

What is H1N1 Swine Flu?

What is Thyroid?

What is Paralysis?

Worst Pandemics in History

How Worst Pandemics in History Finally Ended

History of Major Plague Outbreaks in the World

World's Deadliest Diseases in the History

History of the Spanish Flu

All about Cancer

All about Kidney Failure

All about Heart Attack

How do you get Kidney Stones?

What is Skin Cancer?

What is a Stroke?

What is Lung Cancer?

Alzheimer’s Disease

What is Asthma?

Signs and Symptoms of Asthma

Best Exercise for Asthma Patients

What is Bird Flu Disease?

Parkinson's Disease

What is Obesity?

Spinal Cord Tumours

Endometrial Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

What is Sarcopenia?

What is Malnutrition?

Prostate Cancer

Carcinoid Tumour

Pituitary Tumour

Wilm’s Tumour

Cervical Cancer

Fallopian Tube Cancer

Gallbladder Cancer

List of Common Eye Problems in India

Show more

More articles related to Health Insurance

Deductible in Health Insurance

Difference between Family Floater and Individual Health Insurance

Cashless Health Insurance

Sum Insured in Health Insurance

Daily Hospital Cash Benefit

Types of Health Insurance

Pre-existing Disease Cover

What is Copay in Health Insurance

Cancer Insurance Cover

TPA in Health Insurance

Difference between Mediclaim Policy and Health Insurance

Health Insurance Premium Calculator

Difference between Term Insurance and Health Insurance

COVID 19 Health Insurance

Difference between Life Insurance and Health Insurance

Waiting Period in Health Insurance

What is Health Insurance

Health Insurance Portability

Digit Illness Group Insurance

Best Health Insurance Policy in India

State-Wise Quarantine Rules & Guidelines

Day Care Procedures in Health Insurance

No Room Rent Capping in Health Insurance

Unlock 4.0 Guidelines

Health Insurance for Diabetes Patients

Health Insurance covering Cataract Surgery

Health Insurance for Vector Borne Diseases

Health Insurance with Free Annual Checkup

Domiciliary Hospitalization in Health Insurance

Government Health Insurance Schemes

Sub-Limit in Health Insurance Policy

Cooling-off Period in Health Insurance

Loading in Health Insurance

Pre and Post Hospitalization Expenses in Health Insurance

GMC and GPA Policies in Health Insurance

Indemnity Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Disabled Persons

Difference Between Waiting Period and Survival Period

Types of Health Insurance Claims

Health Tips & Guides

Food Tips & Guides

Nutrition Tips & Guides

Weight Loss Tips & Guides

Guides about different Diseases

Health Insurance Tips

Show more

Download Health Insurance Policy Wordings

Click here for Policy wordings | Digit Health Care plus policy - Benefit illustration

Get our app

Download man

App Store

Google Play

Health Insurance Guides

Car Insurance Guides

Bike Insurance Guides

Calculators

Income Tax Guides

RTO Offices in India

Important Links

Car Brands & Models

CIN: U66010PN2016PLC167410, IRDAI Reg. No. 158.

Go Digit General Insurance Limited (formerly known as Oben General Insurance Ltd.) - Registered Office Address - 1 to 6 floors, Ananta One (AR One), Pride Hotel Lane, Narveer Tanaji Wadi, City Survey No.1579, Shivaji Nagar, Pune-411005, Maharashtra | Corporate Office Address - Atlantis, 95, 4th B Cross Road, Koramangala Industrial Layout, 5th Block, Bengaluru-560095, Karnataka