Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body becomes resistant to insulin and gradually produces less of it. It develops quietly, and many people are diagnosed only after routine blood tests or once complications have begun.
How it is assessed
Assessment usually begins with fasting and post-meal blood glucose, HbA1c, kidney and liver function, a lipid profile, and a check for early complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves and feet. The aim is to build an accurate picture before deciding on treatment rather than starting medication blindly.
Treatment approach
Treatment is individualised. Depending on your HbA1c, weight, kidney function, other illnesses and daily routine, this may involve oral medication, newer drug classes such as GLP-1 receptor agonists or SGLT2 inhibitors, or insulin. Structured dietary counselling and realistic activity targets are part of every plan.
For patients with variable readings, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can reveal patterns that occasional finger-prick tests miss — particularly overnight lows and post-meal spikes.
Living with it
Type 2 diabetes is managed over decades, not weeks. Regular review of medication, annual complication screening and adjustments as circumstances change matter far more than any single consultation.