Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin it makes does not work properly. This causes the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood to become too high. About 9 in 10 people with diabetes in the UK have type 2.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and feet. Good management greatly lowers these risks.
Symptoms
Many people have no symptoms at first, which is why checks are important. Symptoms can include:
- peeing more, especially at night
- feeling very thirsty
- feeling tired
- losing weight without trying
- itching around the genitals, or repeated thrush
- cuts that heal slowly
- blurred vision
Who is at risk?
You are more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you:
- are over 40, or over 25 if you are of South Asian heritage
- have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
- are overweight, especially around the waist
- are of South Asian, Chinese, Black African or African-Caribbean heritage
- have high blood pressure
- had diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
You can check your risk in a few minutes with the free Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool.
Getting diagnosed
A blood test called HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the last 2 to 3 months.
| HbA1c | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| below 42 mmol/mol | Normal |
| 42 to 47 mmol/mol | Prediabetes (higher risk) |
| 48 mmol/mol or higher | Type 2 diabetes |
If you have prediabetes in England, you may be offered a place on the free NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, which can help stop it becoming type 2 diabetes.
Treatment
Treatment usually starts with healthy changes and often medicine. See type 2 diabetes treatment.
Your yearly checks
Everyone with diabetes should have these checks at least once a year:
- HbA1c blood test
- eye screening
- foot check
- kidney tests
- blood pressure and cholesterol
- weight and support to stop smoking if you smoke
Common questions
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than it should be, but not high enough to be type 2 diabetes. It is usually an HbA1c of 42 to 47 mmol/mol. Healthy changes can stop it turning into type 2 diabetes.
Can type 2 diabetes go away?
For some people, yes. Losing weight, especially soon after diagnosis, can put type 2 diabetes into remission. This means your blood sugar stays in a healthy range without diabetes medicine. It can come back, so you still need yearly checks.
Sources we used
- NHS, Type 2 diabetes
- NICE guideline NG28, Type 2 diabetes in adults
- Diabetes UK, Type 2 diabetes
- NHS England, Diabetes Prevention Programme
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