Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high. Normally, the hormone insulin moves glucose from the blood into cells for energy. In type 2 diabetes the body becomes resistant to insulin and gradually can't make enough to keep up — so glucose builds up in the blood. It usually develops slowly over years and is the most common form of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes often develops gradually and with few symptoms, so many people have it for years before it's found. When symptoms do appear, they can include increased thirst and urination, increased hunger, tiredness, blurred vision, slow-healing cuts, and frequent infections. Because it can be silent, screening matters for anyone at higher risk.

Type 2 diabetes results from a mix of genetics and lifestyle. Key risk factors include:

• Being overweight, and carrying weight around the abdomen
• Physical inactivity
• A family history of diabetes, and older age
• Certain ethnic backgrounds with higher risk
• Having prediabetes (blood sugar above normal but not yet diabetic) or a history of gestational diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with blood tests, most commonly:

• A1C (average blood sugar over ~3 months): 6.5% or higher
• Fasting blood glucose: 126 mg/dL or higher
• An oral glucose tolerance test in some cases

Values just below these thresholds indicate prediabetes, a key warning stage where lifestyle changes can prevent or delay diabetes.

Over time, persistently high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, eye damage, nerve damage, and foot problems. This is why good day-to-day management matters — keeping blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in target ranges substantially lowers these risks.

Type 2 diabetes is managed with a combination of:

• Healthy eating — a balanced, fiber-rich diet that steadies blood sugar; the Mediterranean pattern is well supported.
• Physical activity — which improves how the body uses insulin (see the benefits of exercise).
• Weight loss if needed — even modest loss improves blood sugar.
• Monitoring blood sugar as advised, and managing blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Medication when needed — metformin is usually first, with several other options (including GLP-1 and SGLT2 medicines) and insulin if required.

Much of type 2 diabetes is preventable: in people with prediabetes, losing a modest amount of weight and being more active substantially cuts the risk of developing it. For some people with type 2 diabetes, significant weight loss can bring blood sugar back into the normal range (remission), though ongoing healthy habits and monitoring are still needed. A clinician can advise what's realistic for you.