{"id":53164,"date":"2025-11-24T17:56:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T16:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doctena.blog\/?p=53164"},"modified":"2026-03-09T13:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:56:11","slug":"understand-type-2-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doctena.blog\/en\/blog\/healthy-lifestyle-nutrition\/understand-type-2-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Better understand diabetes to better prevent it"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having type 2 diabetes means having <\/span><\/span>too much sugar (glucose) in the blood continuously<\/span>. <\/span>This condition is known as chronic hyperglycaemia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Diabetes appears when <\/span>the body\u2019s cells can no longer absorb sugar properly<\/span> because they become less sensitive or resistant to insulin.\u00b9\u02d2\u00b2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

What is insulin?\u00b9<\/h2>\n

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It allows the body to turn glucose into energy. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd35 <\/span>It usually appears after the age of 40, but it can also occur earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd35<\/span> It develops slowly and often goes unnoticed for a long time.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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How to react?<\/h2><\/div>

If you believe you might be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or if you have any questions, you can consult your general practitioner.
\n<\/span><\/span>The first step is to talk to your general practitioner about your potential risk of type 2 diabetes. Your doctor can assess your overall health and discuss the next steps with you. This may include a few simple tests, such as checking your blood values. For accurate results, you need to come in sober, which means not eating or drinking anything in the morning before your appointment.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Key figures<\/span>\u00b3<\/span><\/div><\/h2><\/div>

One in ten people<\/b> lives with some form of diabetes. This represents more than one million Belgians.
\n<\/span><\/span>90%<\/b> of adults living with diabetes are affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D).
\n<\/span>At the time of diagnosis, <\/span>30%<\/b> of people with type 2 diabetes already show complications.<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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What is type 2 diabetes?\u00b9\u02d2\u00b2<\/span><\/h2><\/div>

The main hormone involved in type 2 diabetes is insulin. It is produced by the pancreas and regulates blood sugar levels. Without insulin, glucose remains in the bloodstream and blood sugar rises. Two main mechanisms lead to type 2 diabetes:<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 <\/span>A decrease in the cells\u2019 sensitivity to insulin:<\/b> Over time, or due to an excess of body fat (for example with overweight or obesity), the body\u2019s cells become less responsive to insulin. Glucose enters the cells less easily and begins to build up in the blood. This is how hyperglycaemia gradually develops.<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 <\/span>Reactive hyperinsulinaemia or insulin deficiency:<\/b> The pancreas produces more insulin for several years to compensate, but this requires constant effort. Over time, it becomes exhausted and can no longer produce enough insulin. Blood sugar then remains high on a long-term basis. This is type 2 diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Several genetic and environmental factors can increase the risk of diabetes.<\/p>\n

\u2705 <\/span>The main risk factors are:<\/b><\/p>\n