Condition
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes develops when your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin and your body has trouble using insulin. In 2021, 38.4 million people in the US had diabetes, about 11.6% of the population. About 8.7 million adults had diabetes but didn't know it.
Common options
- Lifestyle changes. Some people can control their blood glucose through healthy eating and physical activity alone.
- Pills. Most people with type 2 diabetes start with a pill called metformin. Doctors sometimes combine two or three kinds of medicine.
- GLP-1 receptor agonists. These injected medicines help keep blood glucose from rising too high after meals. They may also reduce appetite.
- Insulin. Insulin is an option for many people with type 2 diabetes, either long term or at certain times.
- Weight-loss surgery. This may improve blood glucose for some people who have both obesity and type 2 diabetes.
When to see a doctor
- You are often thirsty, urinate a lot, or feel very hungry even after eating.
- You have blurred vision, tiredness, sores that don't heal, or frequent infections.
- You have numbness or tingling in your hands or feet.
- You have risk factors, such as being 35 or older or having a family history of diabetes. Ask whether you should be tested.
Research studies
Researchers are studying new ways to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. Clinical studies are one option you can discuss with your doctor.
See type 2 diabetes studies recruiting near you →
Plan your next appointment: Questions for your doctor