Type 2 Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body becomes resistant to insulin and blood sugar levels rise. Common symptoms include dry mouth, frequent urination, increased thirst, and unusual tiredness.

Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes typically develops later in life. It often arises gradually and is linked to factors such as diet, physical activity levels, and overall lifestyle patterns.

The treatment for diabetes depends on how high blood sugar levels are. Some people can manage it through changes in diet and lifestyle, while others may also need medications such as oral diabetes drugs or insulin. Although diabetes has no cure, it can be effectively managed to lower the risk of complications.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of type 2 diabetes are:

• Excessive thirst;

• Dry mouth;

• Excessive tiredness;

• Blurred vision;

• Tingling in the feet or hands;

• Frequent urination;

• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and/or recurrent yeast infections;

• Wounds that take a long time to heal.

According to the CDC, type 2 diabetes symptoms often develop over several years and can go unnoticed for a long time. 

Because of this, one of the best ways to check for possible diabetes is to have regular blood tests to monitor blood sugar levels, especially fasting blood glucose.

Online symptom test

If you think you might have type 2 diabetes, choose the symptoms you’re experiencing to learn about your risk level:

The symptom test is only a guidance tool. It does not provide a diagnosis or replace an appointment with an endocrinologist or a primary care provider.

Confirming a diagnosis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is diagnosed through a blood or urine test that checks glucose levels in the body. This test is usually done while fasting and should be performed on 2 different days so the results can be compared.

A fasting blood glucose level of up to 99 mg/dL is considered within the normal range, and according to the CDC fasting glucose levels of 100 to 125 mg/dL indicate prediabetes, while 126 mg/dL or higher may indicate diabetes.

Blood glucose calculator

To find out whether your blood glucose test result may suggest diabetes, enter the value obtained in the calculator below:

Risk factors

The exact causes of type 2 diabetes are not yet fully understood, but the condition develops due to a combination of contributing factors, including:

• Overweight and obesity;

• Sedentary lifestyle;

• A diet high in carbohydrates, sugar, and fat;

• Smoking;

• Fat buildup in the abdominal area.

In addition, type 2 diabetes is more likely in people over age 45, people who use corticosteroids, people with high blood pressure, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and people with a family history of diabetes.

Over time, this combination of factors may reduce how much insulin the pancreas produces. As a result, blood glucose levels rise and the disease becomes more likely to develop.

Treatment options

The first step in treating type 2 diabetes is adopting a balanced diet with less sugar and fewer other forms of carbohydrates.

It is also important to exercise at least 3 times a week and to work toward a healthy weight if you have overweight or obesity.

In addition to these recommendations, a healthcare provider may prescribe oral diabetes medications, such as metformin, which are tablets that help regulate blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a treatment option for people who cannot keep their glucose levels under control with oral medications alone or who cannot use some diabetes medications because of other health conditions, such as kidney failure.

Possible complications

If diabetes treatment is delayed, excess sugar can build up in body tissues and lead to various complications. Some of the most common include:

• Severe vision changes that may lead to blindness;

• Poor wound healing that may lead to tissue death and limb amputation;

• Problems affecting the central nervous system;

• Blood circulation problems;

• Heart complications and coma.

These complications are more likely to occur in people who do not begin the treatment their doctor recommends, but they can also develop in those who are being treated but do not follow the treatment plan as directed. In such cases, blood glucose levels may stay high and continue to interfere with normal body function.