What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that happens because your pancreas does not make enough of a hormone called insulin (insulin deficiency). It can also happen because your body cannot react to the insulin it produces (insulin resistance).¹

This makes it difficult for your body to control your blood sugar. As a result, you can feel tired, thirsty and need to urinate more frequently.^{2, 3}

Type 2 diabetes usually happens because you may be overweight, inactive or have someone in your family with type 2 diabetes.³

Other risk factors include:

• Being of Asian, African or Afro-Caribbean descent. If you are from any of these backgrounds, you are 2 to 4 times more likely to get type 2 diabetes.
• Having a history of gestational diabetes. Having gestational diabetes can make it 6 times more likely for your child to develop type 2 diabetes.
• Eating a low-fibre diet. Foods that are low in fibre like white bread, white rice, potatoes and sugary drinks, can make your blood sugar go up quickly. This is because these types of food are broken down quickly in your gut.
• Living with another health condition If you have PCOS, metabolic syndrome, or are taking drug treatments like statins, corticosteroids or beta blockers, you are more likely to get type 2 diabetes.⁴

The main symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

• Feeling tired a lot of the time
• Feeling thirstier than usual
• Needing to urinate more than normal, particularly at night
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling itchy around the genitals
• Having wounds that are slow to heal
• Experiencing blurred vision
• Getting thrush repeatedly.^{2, 5}

You need to see a GP as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms. Untreated type 2 diabetes can cause complications to your health.⁵

If you go to your GP with symptoms of type 2 diabetes, you will have to have a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. The healthcare professional will test a few different things before confirming a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.⁶

If you go to your GP with symptoms of type 2 diabetes, you will have to have a blood test to check your blood sugar levels. The healthcare professional will test a few different things before confirming a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.⁶

You will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes if your HbA1c is 48 mmol/mol or higher and you have other medical and physical signs of type 2 diabetes, like tiredness, a frequent need to urinate and unexplained weight loss .⁷

Other tests used to confirm type 2 diabetes include a fasting glucose test and a random glucose test.

A random glucose test is when you get a blood test at any time of the day without fasting (not eating or drinking) beforehand. If you have a blood glucose reading of 11.1 mmol/l, you have diabetes.⁶

Fasting glucose involves not eating or drinking anything but water 8 to 10 hours before the blood test. This will give the doctor an accurate reading of your blood glucose. If your blood glucose is higher than 7mmol/l you have diabetes.⁶

Once type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, you will get a personalised treatment plan from your diabetes healthcare professional.

Type 2 diabetes is mostly managed with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes, including an improved diet and increased physical activity. Medication can include a drug called Metformin, as well as insulin. There are different medications for type 2 diabetes and your healthcare professional will help you find the most suitable treatment for your needs.⁸

When you get a diagnosis, you will get a personalised treatment plan from your diabetes healthcare professional. You should start treatment right away. Your blood sugar will be monitored every 3 to 6 months until your HbA1c (blood glucose) levels are stable. When your HbA1c levels are stable, you will go for check-ups every 6 months.⁹

If your diabetes is not well managed, it can lead to other health complications. Complications include:

• Problems with your eyesight. Some people with type 2 diabetes can get a condition called diabetic retinopathy. It can cause problems with your vision but can be treated.
• Problems with your feet. Diabetic foot can be serious and can lead to amputation if not treated early. Raised blood sugar and nerve damage due to type 2 diabetes can make it difficult to know when your foot is injured and make wounds slower to heal.
• Problems with your heart. Type 2 diabetes can cause heart complications as having high blood sugar for a long time can damage blood vessels.
• Gum disease. People with type 2 diabetes can get gum disease as a result of having too much sugar in their saliva.¹⁰

Untreated type 2 diabetes can also lead to a dangerously high blood sugar level called hyperglycaemia. If hyperglycaemia is not managed early, it can lead to you losing consciousness and needing immediate medical support.⁵

It is possible to manage your type 2 diabetes with a healthy lifestyle so that you no longer need to take medication. If your blood sugar returns to non-diabetic levels long-term, you will be in a state of remission.¹¹