Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes

• About type 2 diabetes
• Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
• Causes of type 2 diabetes
• Treating type 2 diabetes
• Complications of type 2 diabetes
• Living with type 2 diabetes

About type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is usually a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood glucose (sugar) level to become too high.

The hormone insulin – produced by the pancreas – is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood

There are two main types of diabetes:

• type 1 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin
• type 2 – where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin

This topic is about type 2 diabetes.

Read more about type 1 diabetes

Another type of diabetes, known as gestational diabetes, occurs in some pregnant women and tends to disappear after birth.

Symptoms of diabetes

The symptoms of diabetes occur because the lack of insulin means glucose stays in the blood and isn’t used as fuel for energy.

Your body tries to reduce blood glucose levels by getting rid of the excess glucose in your urine.

Typical symptoms include:

• feeling very thirsty
• passing urine more often than usual, particularly at night
• feeling very tired
• weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
• slow to heal cuts or ulcers
• frequent vaginal or penile thrush
• blurred vision

Read more about the symptoms of type 2 diabetes

It’s very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as soon as possible as it will get progressively worse if left untreated.

Causes of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. This means glucose stays in the blood and isn’t used as fuel for energy.

Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity and tends to be diagnosed in older people. Due to increased obesity, type 2 diabetes is now being seen in young people and all ages. It’s far more common than type 1 diabetes.

Read about the causes and risk factors for type 2 diabetes

Treating type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is treated with changes in your diet and depending on the response of your blood glucose levels, sometimes tablets and insulin. Early in the course of type 2 diabetes, planned weight loss can even reverse the disease.

Read more about the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Complications of type 2 diabetes

Diabetes can cause serious long-term health problems. It’s the most common cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age.

Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year for diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes is also responsible for most cases of kidney failure and lower limb amputation, other than accidents.

Read more about the complications of type 2 diabetes

Preventing type 2 diabetes

If you’re at risk of type 2 diabetes, you may be able to prevent it developing by making lifestyle changes.

These include:

• losing weight if you’re overweight, and maintaining a healthy weight
• eating a healthy, balanced diet
• stopping smoking if you smoke
• drinking alcohol in moderation
• taking plenty of regular exercise

Living with type 2 diabetes

If you already have type 2 diabetes, it may be possible to control your symptoms by making the above changes. This also minimises your risk of developing complications.