Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition affecting almost 300,000 people in Ireland and millions worldwide. Read information below and learn what type 2 diabetes is.
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when blood glucose levels are high due to insulin produced by the pancreas not working effectively and/or the cells of the body not responding to insulin effectively – we call it insulin resistance. The condition has a strong genetic and family-related (non-modifiable) connection and is also often associated with other lifestyle-related risk factors. You may be able to significantly slow or reduce the risk of the progression of the condition through changes to diet and increasing the amount of physical activity you do. See more about managing type 2 diabetes here.
Type 2 diabetes diagnosis
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when a blood test called HbA1c carried out by your GP or healthcare professional shows a higher-than-normal range.
Diagnostic criteria on blood test: HbA1c
- Normal range: 20-39 mmol/mol
- Pre-diabetes: 39-47 mmol/mol
- Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol and above
Always ask your GP or healthcare professional for your results. Know your numbers.
Type 2 diabetes is managed with a combination of regular physical activity, healthy eating and medications. Many people may need oral medications and/or injections in addition to lifestyle changes. Your diabetes management may change over time.
Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes:
- Over 45 years of age, but is increasingly occurring in younger age groups including children, adolescents, and young adults
- Family history – parent or sibling with diabetes
- Previous history of high blood pressure or cholesterol
- Diet involving high amounts of sugary foods, processed foods
- Sedentary lifestyle – very little activity or exercise
- Ethnicity – individuals from different backgrounds such as southeast Asian or north African
- Steroids – medication induced
- PCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Gestational diabetes during pregnancy
You can check your overall risk of type 2 diabetes by clicking below.
Signs and symptoms
Type 2 diabetes can be a silent condition, and people can live with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes for many years. It may happen, that someone is diagnosed randomly while investigating other conditions, or during a health check or public screening. Some typical symptoms (although often difficult to spot), are listed below.
- Fatigue – lack of energy
- Tingling of hands and/or feet, possible leg cramps
- Excessive thirst
- More frequent urination
- Recurrent infections
- Wounds/cuts slow to heal
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
Type 2 diabetes remission
Research has shown that it is possible for some people to reduce their risk of further development of type 2 diabetes, and even achieve type 2 diabetes remission.
Type 2 diabetes remission occurs when an individual’s HbA1c decreases to under 48mmol/mol for at least three months without the need for glucose-lowering medications.
It is important to remember that remission may not achievable for everyone living with type 2 diabetes.
Join Our Type 2 Diabetes Community Network Programme and get support on your diabetes journey
