Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose stays persistently elevated because insulin no longer works effectively and the pancreas can't compensate for it.
How it differs from type 1
A common and consequential confusion.
Type 1 is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells. It usually appears in childhood or early adulthood, isn't related to lifestyle, and requires insulin from diagnosis.
Type 2 involves insulin resistance with progressive decline in insulin production. It develops over years, is strongly influenced by modifiable factors alongside genetics and ethnicity, and is treated with a range of approaches — some people eventually need insulin, many don't.
They share a name and a symptom profile. They're different conditions with different causes.
Symptoms
Often absent, especially early. When present: increased thirst, more frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, recurrent infections, and unexplained weight loss.
Because symptoms appear late, a meaningful proportion of people already have signs of complications at diagnosis — which is the case for screening in people at risk.
Complications
Persistently elevated glucose damages blood vessels and nerves over time. This produces:
- Cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death in people with type 2 diabetes
- Retinopathy — eye damage, a major cause of preventable vision loss
- Nephropathy — kidney damage
- Neuropathy — nerve damage, commonly affecting the feet, and a contributor to foot ulceration
- Liver disease — the relationship runs both ways
The important framing: these are largely preventable, and risk falls with good glucose, blood pressure and lipid control. Which is why management focuses on all three rather than glucose alone.
Management
Built on nutrition, physical activity and weight management, with medication added as needed. Several medication classes exist, working through different mechanisms; some also benefit cardiovascular and kidney outcomes independently of glucose.
Care in Australia is coordinated through general practice, usually via an annual cycle of care — see *diabetes care in Australia*.
Related: Diagnosis and monitoring · Remission and reversal · Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver Next: Find a GP or diabetes service →
Educational information only. Not a substitute for medical advice — speak to a qualified health practitioner about your circumstances.