Conditions and symptoms
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes · say it: TYPE TOO dy-uh-BEE-teezAlso written: type 2 diabetes mellitus, T2DM, type II diabetes, adult-onset diabetes
Short answer
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition where the body does not use insulin well, so blood sugar levels run too high.
What it means
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes. The body either does not make enough insulin or does not respond to it properly (insulin resistance), so sugar builds up in the blood. Over time, high blood sugar can affect the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and nerves. Many people have no symptoms at first; others notice thirst, passing a lot of urine, tiredness or infections that are slow to heal.
Type 2 diabetes appears on many medicine labels under 'Indications', for medicines such as metformin, sulfonylureas, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Other labels warn that the medicine can raise blood sugar, such as corticosteroids and some antipsychotics, so people with diabetes may need extra checks. Labels also warn about low blood sugar with some diabetes medicines.
Type 2 is different from type 1 diabetes, where the body's immune system destroys the cells that make insulin and insulin is always needed. Type 2 is often managed with lifestyle changes and tablets or injections, and sometimes insulin.
Where you may see it
- Diabetes medicine labels under 'Indications'
- Warnings on steroid and antipsychotic labels about raised blood sugar
- HbA1c results and diabetes clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It is not caused only by eating sugar.
- Needing insulin does not mean you have type 1 diabetes or that you have failed.
- Feeling well does not mean blood sugar is under control; regular checks matter.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Type 2 diabetes”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Atorvastatin
a statin, a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor type
- Dapagliflozin
a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, a type of diabetes medicine
- Empagliflozin
a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, a prescription medicine that works on sugar handling in the kidneys
- Glimepiride
a sulfonylurea, a type of oral medicine used to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes
- Glipizide
a blood-sugar-lowering medicine of the sulfonylurea type
- Liraglutide
a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a type of medicine that acts like a natural gut hormone called GLP-1 to help lower blood sugar
- Losartan Potassium
an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), a type of medicine used to lower blood pressure
- Metformin
a diabetes medicine of the biguanide type
- Pioglitazone
a diabetes medicine of the thiazolidinedione type
- Semaglutide
A GLP-1 receptor agonist, a type of medicine that works like the natural GLP-1 hormone in the body
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Type 2 diabetes” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “type 2 diabetes mellitus”
Seeing this word on your own report? Get every line of it explained, free.
Explain my report🧩 Related words
🔎 Look up another word
More words: conditions and symptoms
General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.