

That way, it can be better controlled and complications can be avoided or minimised.ĭuring a test, blood is taken from a vein and sent to a pathology lab. It is important for diabetes to be diagnosed early, whether it’s type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If your doctor suspects you have diabetes, you will probably need to have a blood test to assess your glucose level. NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT? - Use our BMI Calculator to find out if your weight and waist size are in a healthy range. people with Pacific Islander, Southern European or Asian backgroundsĪRE YOU AT RISK? - Are you at risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease? Use our Risk Checker to find out.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.for women - having had a baby weighing over 4.5kgĬertain groups of people are more likely to get type 2 diabetes, including:.for women - having polycystic ovarian syndrome.for women - having had gestational diabetes.being overweight or obese, especially with excess weight around the waist.However, risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include: The exact cause of type 2 diabetes is not known. Over time, diabetes can lead to complications, which can then cause other symptoms.īlood glucose testing is important for detecting pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes before complications arise.ĬHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS - Use our diabetes Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. If they do have symptoms, these may include: Many people with type 2 diabetes do not experience any symptoms at first and it may go undiagnosed for years. What are the first symptoms of type 2 diabetes? Without lifestyle changes, a person with pre-diabetes is at high risk of going on to develop type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to meet a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with inherited factors and lifestyle risk factors such as being overweight or obese, poor diet, and insufficient physical activity. As type 2 diabetes progresses, the pancreas gradually loses the ability to produce enough insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body may make enough insulin early in the disease, but doesn’t respond to it effectively. Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease. In type 1 diabetes, people produce little or no insulin, as the insulin-producing cells have been destroyed by the body’s immune system. What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Insulin and glucose production in type 2 diabetes: Insulin (green dots) is produced in the pancreas, and acts with glucose (blue dots) to regulate energy in the body's cells. it causes glucose to stay in the blood, leading to a higher than normal level of glucose in the blood (known as hyperglycaemia). In type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells do not respond effectively to insulin.

Insulin helps glucose produced by the digestion of carbohydrates move from the blood into the body’s cells where it can be used for energy. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not use insulin efficiently and gradually loses the ability to make enough insulin. Related information on Australian websites.What are the complications of type 2 diabetes?.What are the first symptoms of type 2 diabetes?.Keeping active, with a healthy diet and weight, can help prevent or delay it.Lack of physical activity, being overweight and a poor diet increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.Symptoms include feeling tired, hungry or thirsty, and passing more urine.You need insulin to process the glucose in your food to give you energy.Type 2 diabetes develops when the body does not make enough insulin or it does not respond to it effectively.
