Also known as sugar disease, adult-onset diabetes.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body stops responding properly to insulin, letting blood glucose climb for years before symptoms show. It is increasingly common, driven by weight gain, processed diets and inactivity. Early diagnosis and steady control prevent damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart.
Symptoms
Often none for years
Excessive thirst and frequent urination
Unexplained weight loss
Tiredness
Blurred vision
Slow-healing wounds or frequent boils
Tingling or numbness in the feet
Causes & risk factors
Excess body weight, especially around the waist
Physical inactivity
Family history of diabetes
Diet heavy in sugary drinks and refined carbohydrates
Increasing age; diabetes in a past pregnancy
Treatment & self-care
Management combines healthier eating (more vegetables and whole grains, fewer sugary drinks and refined carbs), regular exercise, weight loss and daily glucose-lowering tablets or insulin chosen by your doctor. Regular checks of blood sugar, blood pressure, eyes, kidneys and feet catch complications early. Treatment is lifelong — claims of a quick cure from unproven remedies cost people their kidneys and sight.
See a doctor urgently if
Classic symptoms: thirst, frequent urination, weight loss
A wound on the foot that is not healing
Blurred vision or eye changes
Very high readings, vomiting or confusion — emergency
You are over 40, overweight, and have never tested your sugar
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Type 2 Diabetes?
Early signs often include often none for years, excessive thirst and frequent urination, unexplained weight loss. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Type 2 Diabetes be treated?
Management combines healthier eating (more vegetables and whole grains, fewer sugary drinks and refined carbs), regular exercise, weight loss and daily glucose-lowering tablets or insulin chosen by your doctor. Regular checks of blood sugar, blood pressure, eyes, kidneys and feet catch complications early. Treatment is lifelong — claims of a quick cure from unproven remedies cost people their kidneys and sight.
When should I see a doctor about Type 2 Diabetes?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: classic symptoms: thirst, frequent urination, weight loss; a wound on the foot that is not healing; blurred vision or eye changes; very high readings, vomiting or confusion — emergency; you are over 40, overweight, and have never tested your sugar.