Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
What is Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?
Type 2 diabetes is a condition where your body cannot use insulin properly to control blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that helps sugar move from your blood into your cells for energy. When you have type 2 diabetes, your cells become resistant to insulin. Your pancreas tries to make more insulin to compensate, but eventually it cannot keep up.
This leads to high blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia. Over time, high blood sugar damages blood vessels, nerves, and organs throughout your body. Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition. Type 2 develops gradually and is strongly linked to lifestyle factors like diet, weight, and activity level.
More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and about 90 to 95 percent have type 2. Many people live with undiagnosed diabetes for years because symptoms develop slowly. Early detection through blood testing helps you take action before serious complications develop.
Symptoms
- Increased thirst and frequent urination
- Extreme hunger even after eating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue and weakness
- Blurred vision
- Slow healing cuts and bruises
- Frequent infections, especially skin or gum infections
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Darkened skin patches, often in armpits or neck
Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms in the early stages. High blood sugar can damage your body for years before you notice anything wrong. Regular blood testing helps catch diabetes early, even when you feel fine.
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Causes and risk factors
Type 2 diabetes develops when your cells stop responding properly to insulin, a problem called insulin resistance. Your pancreas makes extra insulin at first, but eventually it cannot produce enough. Excess weight is the strongest risk factor, especially belly fat. Fat cells release chemicals that make insulin resistance worse. Physical inactivity also plays a major role because exercise helps your muscles use sugar efficiently.
Other risk factors include age over 45, family history of diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels. Certain ethnic groups face higher risk, including Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American people. Poor diet, especially eating too many refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks, contributes to insulin resistance. Chronic stress and poor sleep also affect how your body processes sugar.
How it's diagnosed
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests that measure your blood sugar levels. Common tests include fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and oral glucose tolerance tests. Urine glucose testing can help screen for undiagnosed diabetes by detecting sugar spilling into your urine. When blood sugar stays high, your kidneys cannot reabsorb all the glucose and it appears in urine.
Rite Aid offers blood testing that includes biomarkers for diabetes screening and monitoring. You can get tested at over 2,000 Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide with our annual membership. Testing twice per year helps you track your blood sugar patterns and catch problems early. Early detection gives you time to make lifestyle changes before complications develop.
Treatment options
- Weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of body weight improves insulin sensitivity significantly
- Regular physical activity, aiming for 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise
- Low glycemic diet focused on whole foods, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats
- Limiting refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks, and processed foods
- Stress management through meditation, yoga, or other relaxation practices
- Getting 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night
- Metformin, a medication that improves insulin sensitivity and reduces liver glucose production
- Other medications like GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, or insulin when needed
- Regular blood sugar monitoring to track progress
- Working with a doctor or diabetes educator to create a personalized plan
Concerned about Diabetes Mellitus Type 2? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in your pancreas. Type 2 diabetes develops when your body becomes resistant to insulin and your pancreas cannot make enough to compensate. Type 1 usually starts in childhood and always requires insulin. Type 2 develops gradually in adults and can often be managed with lifestyle changes and oral medications.
Many people can put type 2 diabetes into remission through significant lifestyle changes. Weight loss, especially losing belly fat, can restore insulin sensitivity. A low carbohydrate diet and regular exercise are key strategies. Remission means your blood sugar stays in the normal range without medication, but you need to maintain healthy habits to keep it there.
Adults over 45 should get screened for diabetes every 3 years if results are normal. If you have risk factors like obesity, family history, or high blood pressure, you should test more frequently. People with prediabetes should test every year. Once diagnosed with diabetes, test at least twice per year to monitor your blood sugar control.
A fasting blood glucose of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes. A hemoglobin A1c of 6.5 percent or higher also confirms diabetes. Normal fasting glucose is below 100 mg/dL. Levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL indicate prediabetes, which means you have higher risk of developing diabetes.
Limit sugary drinks, white bread, white rice, and foods made with refined flour. Avoid candy, cookies, and desserts with added sugar. Reduce processed foods that contain hidden sugars and unhealthy fats. Watch portions of starchy foods like potatoes and pasta. Focus instead on non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, nuts, seeds, and foods high in fiber.
Chronic high blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves throughout your body. Common complications include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, and nerve damage in feet and hands. Diabetes increases your risk of infections and slow wound healing. Some people develop diabetic foot ulcers that can lead to amputation if not treated properly.
Urine glucose testing can help screen for undiagnosed diabetes but is not the primary diagnostic tool. When blood sugar stays very high, glucose spills into your urine. Blood tests like fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c are more accurate for diagnosis. Urine testing is useful as an additional screening tool and to monitor overall glycemic control.
Yes, physical activity helps your muscles absorb sugar from your blood without needing as much insulin. Exercise can lower blood sugar within minutes and the effect lasts for hours. Both aerobic exercise like walking and resistance training like lifting weights improve insulin sensitivity. Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week for best results.
Metformin is usually the first medication prescribed because it is safe, effective, and inexpensive. Other options include GLP-1 receptor agonists that help with weight loss, SGLT2 inhibitors that remove sugar through urine, and DPP-4 inhibitors. Some people need insulin injections if other medications do not control blood sugar. Your doctor chooses medication based on your specific health needs and goals.
Yes, stress hormones like cortisol cause your liver to release stored sugar into your bloodstream. Chronic stress makes insulin resistance worse over time. Stress also affects sleep quality, eating habits, and motivation to exercise, all of which impact blood sugar. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, adequate sleep, and regular physical activity helps improve diabetes control.