What to Know About Type 2 Diabetes, According to Doctors Who Treat It

More than 38 million Americans have diabetes and of them, up to 95% have type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the condition usually develops in adults in their 40s and older, more children, teens, and young adults are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes develops over time, per the CDC, making it important to be aware of the symptoms. While the disease is linked with serious health complications like heart disease, stroke, and eye damage, being properly diagnosed and following the right treatment plan can help lower the risk of developing other health issues.

Type 2 diabetes comes up a lot in conversations about health, but it's understandable to be fuzzy on the details. Here's what doctors who treat type 2 diabetes want you to know about the disease, plus how to spot early signs.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Ankit Shah, MD, is a diabetes researcher and assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Caroline Messer, MD, is an endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body doesn't make enough insulin or use it effectively, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps to escort blood glucose, aka blood sugar, to the cells to be used for energy, says Ankit Shah, MD, diabetes researcher and assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

When you eat, blood glucose levels rise as the nutrients are absorbed, Dr. Shah explains. "In a healthy individual, this process works so well that the blood glucose levels come down quickly," he says. "In type 2 diabetes, glucose levels stay high because insulin's impact on bringing them down is less effective." This happens because people with type 2 diabetes have something called "insulin resistance," which means the cells aren't as responsive to insulin, he says.

The pancreas typically works overdrive to produce insulin to overcome that insulin resistance, says Caroline Messer, MD, endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. "It eventually tires out and stops producing insulin altogether," she says.

Over the long term, type 2 diabetes can lead to complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations if it's not well managed, Dr. Shah says.

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

There are several factors that could lead to someone developing type 2 diabetes, says Noa Tal, MD, an endocrinologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.

"Type 2 diabetes is caused by a genetic predisposition, diet, and lifestyle," she says. "There is evidence showing that the prevalence is higher in individuals with a strong family history of diabetes." In fact, research shows that up to 68.8 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have at least one family member with a history of the condition.

"But it can definitely be influenced by diet and lifestyle," Dr. Tal says. People who have trouble managing their weight or are physically active less than three times a week are also at risk of developing the condition, she says.

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

It's possible to have type 2 diabetes and have no symptoms, Dr. Shah says. But if your glucose levels are really high, Dr. Shah says you may have these symptoms:

If you have symptoms of type 2 diabetes, your doctor will usually want to screen you for the condition, Dr. Tal says.

How Is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?

While it's possible to have symptoms of type 2 diabetes, the condition is usually picked up during a routine doctor's appointment, Dr. Shah says. "Most people realize they have type 2 diabetes when they get routine blood work with their primary care physician during their annual checkup," he says.

There are four tests that can be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC. Those include:

How Is Type 2 Diabetes Treated?

Doctors typically recommend lifestyle changes for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In fact, Dr. Shah calls this the "backbone" of type 2 diabetes treatment.

"I typically recommend the American Diabetes Association balanced plate method, along with regular aerobic exercise and strength training," Messer says. The balanced plate method, also known as the Diabetes Plate Method, involves filling half of every plate with non-starchy vegetables; a quarter of the plate with grains, starchy vegetables, or beans and lentils; and a quarter of the plate with protein like eggs or meat. Dairy and fruit are considered "off to the side," meaning they're less important and should be eaten in smaller amounts.

Doctors may also recommend trying to lose weight. "Even a modest weight reduction can alter the trajectory of type 2 diabetes," Dr. Shah says.

There are medications available to treat type 2 diabetes, too. "Several types of drugs are effective in lowering blood glucose for patients who need it," Dr. Shah says. "These include a variety of pills and injection therapy, as well as insulin replacement."

If you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Dr. Shah says it's best to consult with your doctor about the right treatment plan going forward. They should be able to help tailor a plan to meet your needs and lifestyle.

Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, health, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in Women's Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and more