Type 2 Diabetes And Metformin

Definition

Risk factors 

Many risk factors exist for the development of type 2 diabetes and they may include the following issues:

• Age - the risk of developing this condition increases with age, especially after 45 years. This is probably due to people tending to exercise less and losing more muscle mass at this stage of their lives.
• Race - the reason in unknown, but certain races such as African, Asians and Hispanics tend to be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.
• Having a family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives. 
• Being overweight - the more fatty tissue that is present in the body, the higher the chances are of the cells becoming resistant to effects of insulin.
• Distribution of fatty tissue - fat which is deposited in the abdomen carries a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than if it's stored in other parts of the body.
• Physical inactivity - a sedentary lifestyle leads to weight gain which increases the chances of developing this condition.

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Complications  

Type 2 diabetes can cause major issues in the body. It can negatively affect many major and vital organs but controlling glucose levels can reduce the chances of complications and prolong one's life. These complications can include the following:

Cardiovascular disease

• Coronary artery disease which can result in experiencing a heart attack.
• Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) which can reduce blood flow to the brain and result in a stroke, or to the limbs and result in amputations. It can also result in high blood pressure which can result in cardiac failure.

Neuropathy/nerve damage

• Excess amounts of glucose in the blood can cause damage to the walls of tiny arteries (called capillaries). This then compromises blood flow to the nerves, especially the limbs. The symptoms start off as tingling sensations, burning or numbness in the tips of the fingers and/or toes and can result in losing sense of all feeling in these areas.
• Damage to the nervous system of the digestive tract can result in nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea. 
• Erectile dysfunction can also occur.

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Nephropathy/kidney damage

• Damage can occur to the filtering system of the kidneys which can lead to kidney failure.
• Irreversible end-stage kidney disease can also occur which needs dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Eye pathology

• Diabetes can cause damage to the vessels supplying blood to the retina and can therefore result in blindness.
• There's an increased risk of developing other issues such as glaucoma or cataracts.

Hearing issues

• Decreased hearing is more common in people with diabetes.

Foot damage

• Diabetes causes decreased blood flow and nerve damage to the extremities, therefore the risk of foot complications rise. 
• Wounds can be sustained and not noticed due to decreased feeling in the feet. If these wounds are left untreated, they can become serious infections which heal poorly due to decreased blood flow.

Skin conditions

• Diabetes causes the immune system to weaken and the skin becomes more susceptible to contracting bacterial or fungal infections.