What should you know about people with type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not use insulin effectively and, over time, may not make enough insulin to keep glucose in a healthy range. Some people notice thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, blurred vision, or slow-healing wounds, while others have few symptoms. Persistently raised glucose can affect blood vessels and nerves. This can contribute to peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, kidney disease, and stroke risk; it does not mean that every person will develop these problems.

Take prescribed medicines as directed and record glucose readings when your care team asks. Build meals around nutritious foods, keep physically active in ways that fit your health, sleep regularly, and avoid smoking. Check your feet for cuts, blisters, colour change, or areas that do not heal, and report concerns early. Keep scheduled reviews for glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, eyes, kidneys, and feet. Learn the symptoms and treatment plan for hypoglycaemia if your medicines can lower glucose. Prediabetes and obesity may also be discussed as part of your risk and care picture.

Seek urgent help for severe confusion, fainting, difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down. Contact a clinician promptly for a foot wound, spreading redness or swelling, fever, new weakness, speech difficulty, chest discomfort, or sudden vision change. A low-glucose episode with loss of consciousness, seizure, or inability to swallow is an emergency. Do not change medicine doses on your own during illness; use your sick-day plan or contact your care team.

Ask what glucose range and monitoring schedule suit you, how to handle missed medicines or illness, which checks are due, and how to protect your feet, kidneys, eyes, and heart.