Type 2 diabetes

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, typically affecting over-40's adults, whereas Type 1 diabetes is the insulin-requiring juvenile form. In many cases, when people say "diabetes", it refers to Type 2 diabetes. Although insulin may be needed in later stages, it is usually treated by diet-only or by diabetes medications in the early years after diagnosis.

Because Type 2 diabetes starts out with only mild symptoms, it is one of the most common under-diagnosed diseases, with millions of Americans unaware that they have it (or the earlier phase called IGT). This is unfortunate, because diabetes causes significant damage to the body and leads to various complications, even in the period prior to diagnosis.

Diagnosis must separate diabetes from other causes of mild symptoms, but this is easily done using the tests for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes must be distinguished from other types of diabetes including Type 1 diabetes, MODY, and IGT. In some cases, an underlying condition such as metabolic syndrome, hemochromatosis or cystic fibrosis may be the actual base illness.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes

• No early symptoms - many people have Type 2 diabetes without knowing it
• Early mild symptoms - from moderate blood sugars (which are still dangerous and lead to serious complications):
  • Skin rashes
  • Skin infections
  • Athlete's foot

See full list of 63 symptoms of Type 2 diabetes

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Type 2 diabetes:

• High Cholesterol: Home Testing:
  • Home Cholesterol Tests
  • Home Triglycerides Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Tests
• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Thyroid: Home Testing:
  • Home Thyroid Function Tests
  • Home TSH Tests
  • Home Adrenal Function Tests
• Diet & Weight Loss: Home Testing:
  • Home Weight Testing
  • Home Body Fat Testing (BMI)
  • Home Body Fat Monitoring
  • Home Fitness Testing
• Diabetes: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Tests
  • Home Blood Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Ketone Tests
  • Home Diabetes HbA1c Tests
  • Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Kidney Tests
  • Home Eye Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Type 2 diabetes

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Type 2 diabetes

• Urine sugar test
• Blood glucose test
• Fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
• See also tests for diabetes

Read more about tests for Type 2 diabetes

Wrongly Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes?

• Misdiagnosis of Type 2 diabetes
• Failure to diagnose Type 2 diabetes
• Underlying causes of Type 2 diabetes (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Type 2 diabetes

In-Depth Reports: Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis

Diabetes diagnosis and misdiagnosis (In-Depth Report): Although diabetes diagnosis is well-known to physicians, and a diabetes diagnosis is unlikely to be wholly incorrect, there are still some rare subtypes and less common diagnostic issues to consider. See also misdiagnosis of diabetes and Diabetes Diagnosis Report....read full report »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Type 2 diabetes

Misdiagnosis and Type 2 diabetes

Metabolic syndrome often undiagnosed: Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X, is an often overlooked medical condition that causes a...read more »

Heart attacks can be undiagnosed: Although the most severe symptoms of heart attack are hard to miss, there are varying degrees of severity. It is...read more »

Heart attacks can be overdiagnosed: Although many people die from heart attacks, there are also many cases where people fear that they have a heart attack, but actually have something milder. Some of the conditions which may be causes...read more »

Undiagnosed causes of weight gain and obesity: Although obesity may be related to lifestyle issues, there are also a number of medical causes of weight gain or obesity that may go undiagnosed. Some of the various possibilities include ...read more »

Rare undiagnosed iron disorder causes various severe conditions: The rare "iron overload" disorder, hemochromatosis, can cause a variety of symptoms and result in various...read more »

Cluster of diseases with difficult diagnosis issues: There is a well-known list of medical conditions that are all somewhat difficult to diagnose, and all can present in a variety of different...read more »

Alzheimer's disease over-diagnosed: The well-known disease of Alzheimer's disease is often over-diagnosed. Patients tend to assume that any memory loss or forgetulness...read more »

Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course, occur due to various medical...read more »

Rare type of breast cancer without a lump: There is a less common form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. Its symptoms can be an inflammation...read more »

Tremor need not be Parkinson's disease: There is the tendency to believe that any tremor symptom, or shakiness, means Parkinson's disease. The reality...read more »

Poorly healing leg rashes a classic sign of chronic disease: Recurring leg rashes, or poorly healing leg rashes, are a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes, particularly of Type 2...read more »

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See ...read more »

Rare diseases misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease: A rare genetic disorder is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease for men in their 50's. The disease Fragile X disorder can show only...read more »

Over-diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in obese patients: A diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension, is often a...read more »

Obesity-related conditions undiagnosed in children: A variety of conditions are associated with obesity (see obesity), but these tend to be undiagnosed more often in child patients than in adults. Some of the overlooked conditions...read more »

Misdiagnosed weight-related causes of infertility: A woman's weight status can affect her level of fertility. Although obesity or overweight can in...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Type 2 diabetes

Causes of Type 2 diabetes

• Metabolic syndrome - a syndrome with 4 key features (diabetes, hypertension, obesity/overweight, and high cholesterol).
• Hemochromatosis - iron overload causes pancreas damage that can mimic Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
• Chronic pancreatitis - pancreas damage that can mimic diabetes.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - ovary cysts inhibit natural female hormones causing insulin resistance
• Cystic fibrosis

Read more about causes of Type 2 diabetes

More information about causes of Type 2 diabetes:

• Underlying causes of Type 2 diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes as a complication caused by other conditions
• Type 2 diabetes as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Type 2 diabetes

Treatments for Type 2 diabetes

• Weight loss
• Exercise
• Diet changes
• Home blood glucose testing
• Oral medication

See full list of 9 treatments for Type 2 diabetes

Videos for Type 2 diabetes

Patient Surveys for Type 2 diabetes

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Type 2 diabetes
  Take Survey  View Results

Reseach about Type 2 diabetes

Visit our research pages for current research about Type 2 diabetes treatments.

Prevention of Type 2 diabetes

Prevention information for Type 2 diabetes has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Type 2 diabetes.

• Control weight
• Exercise
• Physical activity
• Healthy diet

Read more about prevention of Type 2 diabetes

Statistics for Type 2 diabetes

• Medical statistics for Type 2 diabetes
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Type 2 diabetes
• Death and Mortality statistics for Type 2 diabetes
• Society statistics for Type 2 diabetes

Stories from Users Related to Type 2 diabetes

• If not diabetes, then what?
• Any adults with a malrotated colon?
• Need help. Diabetes symptoms but no diabetes
• does anyone think its diabetes
• do i have diabetes,
• 15 year old diabetic - Menstruation concerns
• is it diabetes???
• diabetic?
• Diabetes?
• Diabetes???
• diabetes is killing my sex life
• Diabetes - non classic symptoms no answers from doctors
• Thirst and Fatigue-Not diabetes
• diabetes?... can't tell
• Many symptoms, diabetes or something else?
• Tired diabetic
• Diabetes Questions
• Fifth Disease in Adults...anyone had it?
• diabetes or not
• no sure if it is diabetes

Related forums and stories:

• Diabetes (59)
  • High Blood sugar and irrational behavior
  • What could affect fasting blood sugar test?
  • HELP!- wrong diagnosis - can't get insurance
  • does anyone think its diabetes
  • am i hypoglycaemic??
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Type 2 diabetes, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Type 2 diabetes

Diabetes Overview: NIDDK (Excerpt)

The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2, and one-third of them have not been diagnosed. This form of diabetes usually develops in adults age 40 and older and is most common in adults over age 55. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Type 2 diabetes is often part of a metabolic syndrome that includes obesity, elevated blood pressure, and high levels of blood lipids. Unfortunately, as more children become overweight, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in young people. (Source: excerpt from Diabetes Overview: NIDDK)

Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age--even during childhood. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin and the fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use it properly. Being overweight and inactive can increase the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes taking diabetes medicines, making wise food choices, exercising regularly, taking aspirin daily, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol. (Source: excerpt from Am I at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: NIDDK)

Definitions of Type 2 diabetes:

A subclass of DIABETES MELLITUS that is not INSULIN-responsive or dependent (NIDDM). It is characterized initially by INSULIN RESISTANCE and HYPERINSULINEMIA; and eventually by GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE; HYPERGLYCEMIA; and overt diabetes. Type II diabetes mellitus is no longer considered a disease exclusively found in adults. Patients seldom develop KETOSIS but often exhibit OBESITY. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Mild form of diabetes mellitus that develops gradually in adults; can be precipitated by obesity or severe stress or menopause or other factors; can usually be controlled by diet and hypoglycemic agents without injections of insulin - (Source - WordNet 2.1)