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Diabetes Type 2
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/diabetestype2.html

Diabetes Type 2

Also called: Type 2 Diabetes
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Symptoms
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Prevention and Risk Factors
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Living With
  • Related Issues
  • Specifics
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • Health Check Tools
  • Videos and Tutorials

Research

  • Statistics and Research
  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Women
  • Older Adults
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose is your main source of energy. It comes from the foods you eat. A hormone called insulin helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. If you have diabetes, your body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin well. The glucose then stays in your blood and not enough goes into your cells.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems. But you can take steps to manage your diabetes and try to prevent these health problems.

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes may be caused by a combination of factors:

  • Being overweight or having obesity
  • Not being physically active
  • Genetics and family history

Type 2 diabetes usually starts with insulin resistance. This is a condition in which your cells don't respond normally to insulin. As a result, your body needs more insulin to help the glucose enter your cells. At first, your body makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. But over time, your body can't make enough insulin, and your blood glucose levels rise.

Who is at risk for type 2 diabetes?

You are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you:

  • Are over age 45. Children, teenagers, and younger adults can get type 2 diabetes, but it is more common in middle-aged and older people.
  • Have prediabetes, which means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes
  • Had diabetes in pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more.
  • Have a family history of diabetes
  • Are overweight or have obesity
  • Are Black or African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
  • Are not physically active
  • Have other conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or depression
  • Have low HDL (good) cholesterol and high triglycerides
  • Have acanthosis nigricans - dark, thick, and velvety skin around your neck or armpits

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all. If you do have them, the symptoms develop slowly over several years. They might be so mild that you do not notice them. The symptoms can include:

  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Increased hunger
  • Feeling tired
  • Blurred vision
  • Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
  • Sores that do not heal
  • Unexplained weight loss

How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?

Your health care provider will use blood tests to diagnose type 2 diabetes. The blood tests include:

  • A1C test, which measures your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months
  • Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, which measures your current blood sugar level. You need to fast (not eat or drink anything except water) for at least 8 hours before the test.
  • Random plasma glucose (RPG) test, which measures your current blood sugar level. This test is used when you have diabetes symptoms and the provider does not want to wait for you to fast before having the test.

What are the treatments for type 2 diabetes?

Treatment for type 2 diabetes involves managing your blood sugar levels. Many people are able to do this by living a healthy lifestyle. Some people may also need to take medicine.:

  • A healthy lifestyle includes following a healthy eating plan and getting regular physical activity. You need to learn how to balance what you eat and drink with physical activity and diabetes medicine, if you take any.
  • Medicines for diabetes include oral medicines, insulin, and other injectable medicines. Over time, some people will need to take more than one type of medicine to control their diabetes.
  • You will need to check your blood sugar regularly. Your health care provider will tell you how often you need to do it.
  • It's also important to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels close to the targets your provider sets for you. Make sure to get your screening tests regularly.

Can type 2 diabetes be prevented?

You can take steps to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by losing weight if you are overweight, eating fewer calories, and being more physically active. If you have a condition which raises your risk for type 2 diabetes, managing that condition may lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

  • Type 2 Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
  • Type 2 Diabetes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • What is Diabetes? From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Symptoms

  • Diabetes Type 2 Symptoms (American Diabetes Association)

Diagnosis and Tests

  • A1C: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes Tests & Diagnosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Insulin in Blood From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Ketones in Blood From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Ketones in Urine From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Microalbumin Test (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

  • All about Your Risk for Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Heart Disease (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
  • Find a Recognized Lifestyle Change Program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • How to Prevent Diabetes: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • Diabetes and Dietary Supplements From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes Medicines: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Women and Diabetes -- Diabetes Medicines (Food and Drug Administration)

Living With

  • 4 Steps to Manage Your Diabetes for Life From the National Institutes of Health Easy-to-Read (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Changing Your Habits: Steps to Better Health From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetic Diet: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Get to Know Your Diabetes Care Team (American Diabetes Association)
  • Getting the Very Best Care for Your Diabetes (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
  • Monitoring (Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists)
  • Taking Care of Type 2 Diabetes (American Diabetes Association) - PDF
  • Understanding Diabetes and Mental Health (American Diabetes Association)
  • Weight Loss (American Diabetes Association)
  • Where Do I Begin with Type 2? (American Diabetes Association)

Related Issues

  • 6 Things to Know about Type 2 Diabetes and Dietary Supplements From the National Institutes of Health (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
  • Acanthosis Nigricans (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes Diet, Eating, and Physical Activity From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • National Diabetes Prevention Program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Prediabetes:MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Speak Up -- Diabetes: Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital (Joint Commission) - PDF
  • Symptoms and Causes of Diabetes From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • All about Insulin Resistance (American Diabetes Association) - PDF

Genetics

  • Learn the Genetics of Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)
  • Type 2 diabetes: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Health Check Tools

  • Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test (American Diabetes Association)

Videos and Tutorials

  • Diabetes Movie (For Parents) Video (Nemours Foundation)

Statistics and Research

  • Diabetes in America, 3rd Edition (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • National Diabetes Statistics Report 2020 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
  • Recent Advances (in Diabetes Research) (American Diabetes Association)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Fecal microbiota transplantation reverses insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes: A...
  • Article: The 18-month efficacy of an Intensive LifeStyle Modification Program (ILSM) to...
  • Article: Stratified glucose-lowering response to vildagliptin and pioglitazone by obesity and hypertriglyceridemia...
  • Diabetes Type 2 -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • American Diabetes Association
  • Find a Diabetes Educator (Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases From the National Institutes of Health
  • NIDDK Information Clearinghouses and Health Information Center From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Women

  • Diabetes (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Older Adults

  • Diabetes (AGS Foundation for Health in Aging)
  • Diabetes in Older People From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • A1C test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Diabetes type 2 - meal planning (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Giving an insulin injection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • High blood sugar - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Type 2 diabetes - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Diabetes Typo 2

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • A1C test
  • Diabetes type 2 - meal planning
  • Giving an insulin injection
  • High blood sugar - self-care
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes - self-care
  • Type 2 diabetes - what to ask your doctor

Related Health Topics

  • A1C
  • Blood Sugar
  • Diabetes
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes in Children and Teens
  • Diabetes Medicines
  • Diabetes Type 1
  • Diabetic Diet
  • How to Prevent Diabetes
  • Prediabetes

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Diabetes Type 2 is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Diabetes Type 2

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

  • 3 Key Research Highlights from NIH's Diabetes Branch
  • Turning Things Around: An 18-Year-Old's Inspiring Advice for Managing Type 2 Diabetes
  • Viola Davis on Confronting Prediabetes and Becoming her Own Health Advocate

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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