Common Symptoms

The most common symptoms are feeling very tired, peeing more than usual, feeling constantly thirsty, and losing weight without trying. Other possible symptoms include blurred vision, cuts or wounds healing slowly, and itching around the genitals or recurrent thrush. These symptoms are the same in adults and children, and if they appear, they often develop gradually — though not everyone with type 2 diabetes has noticeable symptoms.

Who's More at Risk

You may be at higher risk if you're white and over 40, or over 25 and from a South Asian, Chinese, Black African or Black Caribbean background; if a parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes; if you're overweight and not very physically active; or if you have a related condition such as high blood pressure. Though less common in children, the same risk factors — ethnic background, weight, activity levels and family history — apply to them too.

Getting Checked

See a GP if you think you or your child may have type 2 diabetes, or if you have a higher risk of developing it — not everyone with the condition has symptoms, so it's worth getting checked if you're concerned. Diabetes UK's Know Your Risk tool can help you understand your personal risk, and a free NHS Health Check is available if you're aged 40 to 74 without an existing relevant health condition.

How It's Diagnosed

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed using a blood test that checks glucose levels, with results usually available within a few days — this also confirms whether it's type 1 or type 2. A diagnosis can feel overwhelming at first, but your diabetes care team of doctors, nurses and other professionals will be there to answer questions and support you with what comes next.

Prediabetes

Prediabetes means blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, and it raises the future risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Most people with prediabetes don't have symptoms — your care team can advise on how eating more healthily, exercise, and other lifestyle changes may help prevent progression to full diabetes.

Lifestyle Changes

Whether you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, lifestyle changes can help lower blood glucose levels, sometimes enough to avoid needing medicine, or even bring levels back to normal (remission). Helpful steps include eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses, making changes gradually if that feels easier, aiming for at least 2.5 hours a week of activity that leaves you slightly out of breath, losing weight if you're overweight, stopping smoking (since diabetes increases its harmful effects), limiting alcohol, and having regular dental check-ups, since diabetes raises the risk of gum disease. It's best to avoid very strict, low-calorie diets without professional advice first, particularly if you're taking insulin or other diabetes medicines.

Free diabetes education courses, such as Healthy Living for people with type 2 diabetes, are recommended for everyone with the condition, usually offered within a year of diagnosis, and the NHS also runs prevention and weight management programmes for those at risk.

Medicines

If medicine is needed and you have no other serious health conditions, you'll usually be offered a combination of metformin (which improves how your body uses insulin) and an SGLT2 inhibitor (which helps excess sugar pass out through urine) — if metformin causes side effects, an SGLT2 inhibitor alone may be recommended instead. If you have a history of heart disease, or are living with obesity and other treatments haven't controlled your blood sugar, a weekly injectable GLP1-agonist may also be offered. If these medicines aren't enough, insulin may be needed, taken by injection or pump, with your care team advising on dosing — taking too much can cause blood glucose to drop too low (a "hypo").

Ongoing Appointments

You'll need regular check-ups, including an HbA1c blood test every 3 to 6 months, a foot check every 1 to 2 years, and annual checks of weight, BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure and kidney function. Diabetic eye screening is offered from diagnosis (or age 12) and repeated every 1 to 2 years. You may also need to carry a medical ID, plan ahead for travel with your medicines and a supporting GP letter, and tell the DVLA if you experience hypos or diabetes-related health problems that could affect driving. If you're planning a pregnancy, ask about referral to a pre-conception clinic and review your medicines with your doctor in advance, and discuss suitable contraception options with your care team in the meantime.

Long-Term Complications

Type 2 diabetes raises the risk of other long-term health problems if it isn't well managed, including damage to blood vessels (raising the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke), foot problems such as ulcers and infections (occasionally leading to amputation), sight problems including diabetic retinopathy and blindness, kidney problems, and gum disease. Managing blood glucose well, alongside a healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking, can help lower these risks — attending all diabetes appointments and tests is important too, since this helps catch and treat complications early.

See a GP or diabetes nurse if you notice blisters or cracked skin on your feet, pain, tingling or numbness anywhere in the body, sexual difficulties, constipation or diarrhoea (possible signs of nerve damage), or if your vision starts to worsen.

Serious Short-Term Complications

Though rare in type 2 diabetes, very high blood glucose can lead to hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS), usually developing over a few weeks and often triggered by infection or dehydration. Alternatively, a lack of insulin can allow harmful substances called ketones to build up, causing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Both HHS and DKA can be life-threatening.

Charities and Organisations

Diabetes UK offers information and support for anyone affected by diabetes, including local support groups, an online community forum, courses, and practical tools for day-to-day management — they can be reached via their helpline on 0345 123 2399 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday), by email, or through their website. Diabetes.co.uk also offers useful apps and an online community for connecting with others managing the condition.

Wider Care and Support

If you need help with day-to-day living because of diabetes or another illness or disability, or if you support a family member or friend who does, NHS guidance on social care and support can help explain the options available and how to access them in your area.