Welcome!
Let’s take a look at some facts about type 2 diabetes, the diagnosis process, and the importance of this information.
All slides can be explored by clicking to display more information.
Slides marked by a star are more interactive: click on an option to explore more or answer a question.
At the end, there will be a game to review the information you have learned.
Let’s start with diabetes in general:
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that controls the amount of sugar, or glucose, in your blood and produce energy1.
Your body uses glucose for energy, so if all of your glucose is stuck in your blood because of insulin ineffectiveness, your body isn’t getting as much energy as it should be.
Diabetes impacts the effectiveness of insulin in your body.
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition where your body produces little to no insulin. It is relatively rare2.
Type 2 Diabetes is a condition where your body is resistant to insulin, rendering it ineffective against blood sugar. It is common, making up 90-95% of diabetes cases1.
Type 2 diabetes can result in3,4…
If you experience more than two of the following symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor about them.
3. Wu Y, Ding Y, Tanaka Y, Zhang W. Risk Factors Contributing to Type 2 Diabetes and Recent Advances in the Treatment and Prevention. International Journal of Medical Sciences. 2014;11(11):1185-1200.
4. Scheen AJ. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF TYPE 2 DIABETES. Acta Clinica Belgica. 2003;58(6):335-341. doi:https://doi.org/10.1179/acb.2003.58.6.001
Pop quiz: Which is NOT a symptom of type 2 diabetes?
Dry skin
Unexpected Weight Loss
Blurry vision
Fever
Click here to try again!
That’s right!
Fevers will not be directly caused by high or low blood sugar.
However, since diabetics are more prone to infection, a fever can be a symptom of an infection.
When you talk to your doctor about concerns about diabetes, they’ll likely test you using one of these three tests:
These tests all draw a small amount of blood from your body to test blood sugar levels, but with different procedures.
Glycated Hemoglobin A1C Test
Plasma Glucose Concentration Test
Two Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
Glycated Hemoglobin A1C Test5
Measures average blood glucose level from the past 2-3 months
Normal blood sugar levels would be less than 5.7%
Prediabetes blood sugar levels would be between 5.7-6.5%
Diabetes blood sugar levels would be above 6.5%
5. Goyal R, Jialal I. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. NCBI. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513253/
OGTT
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Fasting Plasma Glucose Concentration Test5
Measures glucose level of the plasma in your blood after fasting for at least 8 hours
Normal blood sugar levels would be less than 99 mg/dL
Prediabetes blood sugar levels would be between 100-125 mg/dL
Diabetes blood sugar levels would be above 126 mg/dL
5. Goyal R, Jialal I. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. NCBI. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513253/
A1C Test
Next
Two Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)5
Measures blood glucose levels before a sugary drink and 2 hours after
Normal blood sugar levels would be less than 140 mg/dL
Prediabetes blood sugar levels would be between 140-199 mg/dL
Diabetes blood sugar levels would be above 200 mg/dL
5. Goyal R, Jialal I. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. NCBI. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513253/
Next
Fasting Plasma Glucose Concentration
If you’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, there will be many treatment options available, but many things to look out for as well.
Diabetes cannot be permanently cured, but there are drugs that can be taken to help your insulin out, such as Metformin.
However, there are some lifestyle changes that can be made to help prevent these complications.
Unfortunately, diabetes will come with higher risks for complications and conditions.
Some important factors to manage with diabetes are6..
Exercise
Sleeping at least 7 hours a night
Eating a balanced diet
Avoiding excess alcohol
6. Marín-Peñalver JJ, Martín-Timón I, Sevillano-Collantes C, Cañizo-Gómez FJ del. Update on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. World Journal of Diabetes. 2016;7(17):354.
By managing these factors, you can prevent further complications such as3…
Heart disease and high blood pressure
Kidney failure
Vision loss/eye diseases
Diabetic foot sores
Neuropathy (pain in hands/feet)
3. Wu Y, Ding Y, Tanaka Y, Zhang W. Risk Factors Contributing to Type 2 Diabetes and Recent Advances in the Treatment and Prevention. International Journal of Medical Sciences. 2014;11(11):1185-1200. doi:https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.10001
True or False: There is absolutely no way to manage diabetes and you just have to live with all of the symptoms and future complications
False
True
Click here to try again!
That’s right!
Although there is no end-all cure for diabetes, there are drugs available to increase insulin sensitivity and ways to help prevent future complications.
You will have to change your lifestyle to accommodate, but that won’t stop you from living your life and occasionally indulging in a treat.
Fortunately, type 2 diabetes is often easily preventable.
can all be used to help reduce risk of type 2 diabetes7.
However, type 2 diabetes is also genetic, so a family history of type 2 diabetes will increase the risk a person has of being diagnosed.
7. Wilmot E, Idris I. Early onset type 2 diabetes: risk factors, clinical impact and management. Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease. 2014;5(6):234-244.
Let’s review with a game!
You are going to take on the role of a doctor and decide if your stick person patients do not have diabetes, have prediabetes, or diabetes.
If a patient has diabetes, you’ll help them by telling them how they can manage their condition to prevent complications.
Click here to begin
Hello! I’ve been feeling very strange recently. I feel more tired than usual, I feel more thirsty, and I think I’ve lost a lot of weight too. My grandmother had type 2 diabetes.
What should you do next?
Request a blood glucose test
Administer a flu shot
Try again!
(Hint: Did any relatives have a condition that can be passed on genetically?)
You said my A1C test came out at 6.7%. what does that mean?
How should you respond?
You have type 2 diabetes.
You’re fine!
Try again!
What should I do now?
How should you respond?
Just take insulin injections and you’ll be fine.
This will come with a series of lifestyle changes, but you can also take insulin to manage it.
Try again!
What changes should I make?
How should you respond?
Completely cut out sugar and carbs from your diet.
Eat a balanced diet if you can, and try to limit alcohol.
Try again!
Alright, I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks!
Next
You successfully diagnosed this patient with type 2 diabetes, and helped him with managing it!
Try another patient
Hello. I’ve been feeling extremely hungry, thirsty, and tired recently. I’m also dizzy a lot. I’m scared it’s type 2 diabetes.
What should you do next?
Request a blood glucose test
“Probably just the flu!”
Try again!
My OGTT was 120 mg/dL. What does that mean?
How should you respond?
You don’t have diabetes.
You have prediabetes.
Try again!
Huh. I must have something else then. Thank you.
Next
You successfully read this patient’s oral glucose tolerance test and crossed out the possibility of diabetes!
Try another patient
Hi! I’ve been experiencing a weird tingling feeling in my hands, as well as being really tired and having injuries that healed really slow. I only eat junk food in my dorm and I don’t get much sleep because of classes.
What should you do next?
“Just work out!”
Request a blood glucose test
Try again!
My fasting plasma glucose test came out to be 145 mg/dL. What on earth does that mean?
How should you respond?
“It means you spend too much time on that phone!”
“You have type 2 diabetes.”
Try again!
Really? Is there anything I should be worried about with type 2 diabetes?
How should you respond?
“You only have to be worried about your current symptoms.”
“You’re at a higher risk for heart disease, vision loss, and kidney failure.”
Try again!
Oh. Is there any way I can prevent those?
How should you respond?
“You should be intensely working out every day for the rest of your life.”
“You should try to have a more balanced diet and sleep some more.”
Try again!
I’ll try. Thanks!
Next
You successfully diagnosed this patient with type 2 diabetes, informed him of potential complications, and how to manage them!
Next
Thank you for going through this module!
This was made by Jaid Pham, Rachel Wang, iyad Alsahli, Safia Master
Mentor: Paul Lewis
Now, you understand how type 2 diabetes impacts your body, how doctors diagnose type 2 diabetes, potential complications with type 2 diabetes, and how to manage and prevent it!
References