Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a common and serious medical condition. It affects an estimated 30 million people in the U.S — almost 10% of the population.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body is unable to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body process sugar. When there’s not enough insulin, or your body can’t use it properly, the sugar (glucose) levels in your blood rise higher than what’s safe.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition. It can develop at any time in your life, and it often doesn’t have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. 

In this guide, we include information to help you to understand:

• Your risk for developing diabetes

• How you can be screened and tested for diabetes

• Lifestyle changes that decrease your risk of developing diabetes, reverse the stages of early diabetes, or keep you healthy if you live with diabetes 

• The different treatment options for Type 2 diabetes

• Some of the complications that can develop from diabetes and steps you can take to prevent them

Prediabetes: Your GoodRx Guide

Written by Sophie Vergnaud, MD

The different types of diabetes

Type 2 diabetes isn’t the only type of diabetes, but it’s by far the most common. It affects about 95% of all people with diabetes. 

There are several different types of diabetes: 

• Type 1 diabetes 

• Type 2 diabetes

• Prediabetes

• Gestational (diabetes that’s diagnosed in pregnancy) 

• Other rare types of diabetes (for example, diabetes related to medications or problems with the pancreas)

Some types of diabetes are temporary or reversible, like gestational diabetes. Other types are long term and permanent, like Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. 

The different types of diabetes are more like a spectrum, rather than distinct categories. And people can have more than one type of diabetes. For example, someone with Type 1 diabetes can also develop Type 2 diabetes. And someone with gestational diabetes is at higher risk for developing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes down the line.

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes: Your Guide to Understanding Their Differences

Written by Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is caused by two problems: either the body doesn’t make enough insulin, or it doesn’t respond normally to insulin (sometimes referred to as insulin resistance). When your body can’t produce or respond to insulin properly, your blood sugar rises.

Type 2 diabetes also has a genetic link, and it tends to run in families. But other factors play an important role as well:

• Increased weight

• Not enough exercise

• Smoking

• Poor sleep

• Metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of conditions that increase your risk of developing diabetes

The Link Between Obesity and Diabetes: Does One Cause the Other?

Written by Khrystal Robinson, MD

Common Type 2 diabetes symptoms

Type 2 diabetes develops over time. Most people with mild or early diabetes don’t have any symptoms. This is why it’s so important to have regular checkups and blood tests for screening. 

As blood sugar levels go up — and stay up — people will start to experience symptoms, like:

• Fatigue

• Loss of appetite

• Thirst and dry mouth

• Frequent urination

• Blurry vision 

• Headaches

In rare cases, elevated blood glucose levels can lead to a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This is often associated with: 

• Severe lethargy or fatigue

• Confusion

• Dizziness

• Repeated episodes of vomiting

How Do You Know If You Have Diabetes? 10 Early Signs to Watch For

Written by Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA

Diagnosis

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with blood and urine tests.

The main tests used to diagnose diabetes are:

• Fasting blood glucose test: This is performed at least 8 hours after your last meal. A normal fasting blood glucose is less than 100 mg/dL.

• Hemoglobin A1C level: This test measures how high your average glucose has been over time. Normal A1C is less than 5.7%.

• Oral glucose tolerance test: This tests your blood sugar 2 hours after sugar intake. A normal reading is less than 140 mg/dL.

These tests are typically used to screen for diabetes, even before you have symptoms. If you have symptoms of diabetes, your healthcare team will often first give you the following tests:

• A fingerstick glucose: This is a quick way to measure your blood sugar levels with a finger prick and handheld monitor.

• A random plasma glucose: This is slightly more accurate than a fingerstick test, and it allows your healthcare team to check your other electrolyte levels as well.

7 Proven Tips to Lower Your Hemoglobin A1C Levels

Written by Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA

Treatment for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes treatment is often a combination of helpful lifestyle changes as well as medications. Some lifestyle changes that are helpful for most people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes include:

• A nutritious diet 

• Weight loss

• Exercise

• Quitting smoking

• Stress reduction

• Healthy sleep habits

For some people, lifestyle changes are enough to keep their blood sugar levels well controlled. More often, lifestyle changes are combined with medications. There are two main categories of medications for Type 2 diabetes:

• Oral medications that help you respond better to your body’s existing insulin 

• Injectable insulins and injectable non-insulins that supplement the body’s lower-than-normal insulin levels and help it work better 

Treatment starts with lifestyle change. Your healthcare team may add medications if and when you need them. It’s common that your treatment plan will change over time as your body’s insulin needs change. Your care team will help you figure out the right treatments for you.

Can You Cure or Reverse Diabetes?

Written by Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Diabetes medications

When you need medications to help control your blood sugar levels, there are two main categories: oral medications and injectable medications.

1. Oral medications (pills)

Oral medications help your body make more insulin, or respond better to your existing insulin. There are a number of different types of oral medications, and some people take more than one. Examples of these include:

• Metformin

• Sulfonylureas, like glipizide

• Thiazolidinediones, like pioglitazone

• Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, like Januvia

• Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, like Jardiance

There’s also a type of inhaled insulin that you can use alongside a long-acting injectable insulin.

2. Injectable medications

Sometimes, these medications aren’t enough to keep your blood sugar down. You may need injectable medications as well. These require using a very small needle to inject medication underneath the skin. 

There are different types of injectable medications: insulins and non-insulins. 

Insulins

Insulins supplement your body’s lower-than-normal insulin levels. They’re categorized by how long they last in your body after you inject them:

• Rapid-acting (lasts 1 to 2 hours)

• Short-acting (lasts 2 to 4 hours)

• Intermediate-acting (lasts 6 to 14 hours)

• Long-acting (lasts 24 hours)

• Ultra-long-acting (lasts 40 hours)

• Combinations of short- and long-acting (lasts 24 hours)

Non-insulins

Injectable non-insulins are medications that mimic other hormones associated with eating and storing energy. They can increase how much insulin your pancreas makes, slow down your digestive process, and lower how much glucose your liver releases. Examples include: 

• Symlin (pramlintide)

• Bydureon or Byetta (exenatide)

• Victoza (liraglutide)

• Trulicity (dulaglutide)

• Ozempic (semaglutide)

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

The 6 Types of Insulin: A Guide to Regular, Short, and Long-Acting Insulins

Written by Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA