Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPrevalenceLife ExpectancyPreventionComorbid ConditionsWhen to Seek HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Prevalence
Life Expectancy
Prevention
Comorbid Conditions
When to Seek Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Type 2 diabetesis a chronic condition in which blood sugar (glucose) levels are excessively high. It’s the most common form of diabetes, affecting more than 34 million Americans, or just over 10% of the U.S. population. Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases in the country.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with a range of lifestyle risk factors including obesity and lack of exercise. It usually develops in those over the age of 45 and occurs when the body becomes less sensitive to the blood sugar-regulating hormoneinsulin.
This article looks at the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, its causes and risk factors, and the life expectancy of those with the condition. It also covers ways to prevent diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus: What a Diagnosis Means for Your Health
Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes
Data shows that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been increasing in the United States and around the world for the past three decades.Type 2 diabetes rates have risen at such an alarming rate that public health officials have deemed this condition to be a public health crisis.
Life Expectancy: Factors that Influence Prognosis
Research shows that on average type 2 diabetes is associated with a 1.3 to 2.0 times higher risk of early death, which is most often the result of cardiovascular disease.
Still, some factors contribute to a better outlook for people with diabetes. New medications and screening techniques have improved diagnostics and treatment, and a renewed emphasis oneating a balanced dietand maintaining a healthy weight can make a difference.
Age
The older you get, the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes—regardless of your genetics, weight, or eating habits. That’s because the cells' ability to respond to insulin, called insulin sensitivity, decreases with age, especially after age 45.
When cells become more resistant to insulin (insulin resistance), it makes it harder for blood sugar to be effectively removed from the bloodstream, which causes blood sugar levels to rise excessively high.
Scientists theorize that thepancreas"ages" as well, losing its ability to pump insulin as efficiently as it did when we were younger.
Genetics
A diagnosis of diabetes is usually met with a ton of questions. Did I inherit this condition? Are my children at risk? Could I have prevented this, or was I genetically predisposed to get this all along?
The answers are complex, but research has shown that genetics play a role in type 2 diabetes. In fact, it is now believed that many people inherita predisposition to the disease, but something in your environment triggers it. Genetics alone don’t explain why one person develops type 2 diabetes and another does not.
Additionally, race and ethnicity play a mysterious role in whether or not you’re more likely to develop diabetes. People who identify as African-American, Latinx, Pacific-Islander, or Alaskan Native (AI/AN) have a higher-than-normal rate of type 2 diabetes. Studies show more than 120 gene variants have been identified as linked to causing type 2 diabetes.
What if Diabetes Runs in Your Family?
Diet
Your diet is one of the most important factors in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and extending your life expectancy when you have type 2 diabetes.
Managing blood sugar can be difficult either because your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin or the insulin it makes isn’t being used efficiently. Learning what to eat and what not to eat, portion control, and how to meet your dietary needs are paramount to leading a healthy, symptom-free life.
There are some diets, sometimes called “diabetic diets” that have been proven to keep blood sugars within a healthy range. These diets all encourage high fiber intake, little or no added sugar, complex carbs, and avoidance of foods high in trans and saturated fats. The goal is to provide you with the macronutrients you need while cutting the simple carbs that lead to spikes in blood sugar.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all diabetic diet, it’s important to note that there are some well-studied meal plans that have been shown to lower your risk of medical complications as a result of type 2 diabetes. These meal plans include:
What to Eat to Regulate Your Blood Sugar
Type 2 diabetes is a largely preventable disease if you know the risk factors and take immediate steps to limit their negative impact on your health.
The risk factors for diabetes include:
The American Diabetes Association recommends that most adults begin diabetes screening at the age of 35.
No matter your age, it’s never too early to start an anti-diabetes lifestyle that includes:
Research has shown that losing a small amount of weight can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. A small amount of weight loss means around 5% to 7% of your body weight or just 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person.
BMI is a dated, flawed measure. It does not take into account factors such asbody composition, ethnicity, sex, race, and age. Even though it is abiased measure, BMI is still widely used in the medical community because it’s an inexpensive and quick way to analyze a person’s potential health status and outcomes.
How to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
Risk factors for many of these conditions overlap with risk factors for diabetes. Thus, lifestyle changes and other treatments thathelp you manageor prevent diabetes can also lower the chances you’ll have problems from these comorbidities.
When to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
If you have certain risk factors, like excess belly fat or a sedentary lifestyle, you may want to work with your healthcare provider to assess your diabetes risk.
Type 2 diabetes is a manageable condition, but early detection and treatment under the care of a trusted medical professional are key. With the help of a diabetes care team, you can formulate a plan with reachable goals and figure out the best course of action moving forward.
Summary
Type 2 diabetes affects more than 34 million Americans or just over 10% of the U.S. population—and that number is expected to rise over the next decade. This condition is considered public health crisis.
While there’s no one cause of type 2 diabetes, it’s largely thought of as a lifestyle disease. Avoiding the following habits can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Early signs of diabetes include fatigue, changes in vision, increases in thirst, excessive urination, unexplained weight loss, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. A urine glucose test is a quick and cheap screening tool that can be used to detect sugar in the urine, a subtle sign of potential diabetes. Ablood glucose testor a hemoglobin A1c is used to confirm the diagnosis.
Prediabetesis an early warning sign that you may be headed towards full-blowntype 2 diabetes. Prediabetes means you have higher-than-normal blood sugar (glucose), but it’s not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.Khan MAB, Hashim MJ, King JK, Govender RD, Mustafa H, Al Kaabi J.Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes - global burden of disease and forecasted trends.J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020;10(1):107-111. doi:10.2991/jegh.k.191028.001Wright AK, Kontopantelis E, Emsley R, et al.Life expectancy and cause-specific mortality in type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study quantifying relationships in ethnic subgroups.Dia Care. 2017;40(3):338-345. doi:10.2337/dc16-1616Arda HE, Li L, Tsai J, et al.Age-dependent pancreatic gene regulation reveals mechanisms governing human β cell function.Cell Metabolism. 2016;23(5):909-920. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.04.002American Diabetes Association.Genetics of diabetes.Prasad RB, Groop L.Genetics of type 2 diabetes-pitfalls and possibilities.Genes (Basel). 2015;6(1):87-123. doi: 10.3390/genes6010087Martín-Peláez S, Fito M, Castaner O.Mediterranean diet effects on type 2 diabetes prevention, disease progression, and related mechanisms. A review.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2236. doi:10.3390/nu12082236Campbell AP.DASH eating plan: an eating pattern for diabetes management.Diabetes Spectr. 2017;30(2):76-81. doi:10.2337/ds16-0084McMacken M, Shah S.A plant-based diet for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2017;14(5):342-354. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.05.009American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002Gutin I.In BMI we trust: Reframing the body mass index as a measure of health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.Khan MAB, Hashim MJ, King JK, Govender RD, Mustafa H, Al Kaabi J.Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes - global burden of disease and forecasted trends.J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020;10(1):107-111. doi:10.2991/jegh.k.191028.001Wright AK, Kontopantelis E, Emsley R, et al.Life expectancy and cause-specific mortality in type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study quantifying relationships in ethnic subgroups.Dia Care. 2017;40(3):338-345. doi:10.2337/dc16-1616Arda HE, Li L, Tsai J, et al.Age-dependent pancreatic gene regulation reveals mechanisms governing human β cell function.Cell Metabolism. 2016;23(5):909-920. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.04.002American Diabetes Association.Genetics of diabetes.Prasad RB, Groop L.Genetics of type 2 diabetes-pitfalls and possibilities.Genes (Basel). 2015;6(1):87-123. doi: 10.3390/genes6010087Martín-Peláez S, Fito M, Castaner O.Mediterranean diet effects on type 2 diabetes prevention, disease progression, and related mechanisms. A review.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2236. doi:10.3390/nu12082236Campbell AP.DASH eating plan: an eating pattern for diabetes management.Diabetes Spectr. 2017;30(2):76-81. doi:10.2337/ds16-0084McMacken M, Shah S.A plant-based diet for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2017;14(5):342-354. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.05.009American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002Gutin I.In BMI we trust: Reframing the body mass index as a measure of health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.Khan MAB, Hashim MJ, King JK, Govender RD, Mustafa H, Al Kaabi J.Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes - global burden of disease and forecasted trends.J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020;10(1):107-111. doi:10.2991/jegh.k.191028.001Wright AK, Kontopantelis E, Emsley R, et al.Life expectancy and cause-specific mortality in type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study quantifying relationships in ethnic subgroups.Dia Care. 2017;40(3):338-345. doi:10.2337/dc16-1616Arda HE, Li L, Tsai J, et al.Age-dependent pancreatic gene regulation reveals mechanisms governing human β cell function.Cell Metabolism. 2016;23(5):909-920. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.04.002American Diabetes Association.Genetics of diabetes.Prasad RB, Groop L.Genetics of type 2 diabetes-pitfalls and possibilities.Genes (Basel). 2015;6(1):87-123. doi: 10.3390/genes6010087Martín-Peláez S, Fito M, Castaner O.Mediterranean diet effects on type 2 diabetes prevention, disease progression, and related mechanisms. A review.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2236. doi:10.3390/nu12082236Campbell AP.DASH eating plan: an eating pattern for diabetes management.Diabetes Spectr. 2017;30(2):76-81. doi:10.2337/ds16-0084McMacken M, Shah S.A plant-based diet for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2017;14(5):342-354. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.05.009American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002Gutin I.In BMI we trust: Reframing the body mass index as a measure of health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Type 2 diabetes.
Khan MAB, Hashim MJ, King JK, Govender RD, Mustafa H, Al Kaabi J.Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes - global burden of disease and forecasted trends.J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2020;10(1):107-111. doi:10.2991/jegh.k.191028.001
Wright AK, Kontopantelis E, Emsley R, et al.Life expectancy and cause-specific mortality in type 2 diabetes: a population-based cohort study quantifying relationships in ethnic subgroups.Dia Care. 2017;40(3):338-345. doi:10.2337/dc16-1616
Arda HE, Li L, Tsai J, et al.Age-dependent pancreatic gene regulation reveals mechanisms governing human β cell function.Cell Metabolism. 2016;23(5):909-920. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.04.002
American Diabetes Association.Genetics of diabetes.
Prasad RB, Groop L.Genetics of type 2 diabetes-pitfalls and possibilities.Genes (Basel). 2015;6(1):87-123. doi: 10.3390/genes6010087
Martín-Peláez S, Fito M, Castaner O.Mediterranean diet effects on type 2 diabetes prevention, disease progression, and related mechanisms. A review.Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2236. doi:10.3390/nu12082236
Campbell AP.DASH eating plan: an eating pattern for diabetes management.Diabetes Spectr. 2017;30(2):76-81. doi:10.2337/ds16-0084
McMacken M, Shah S.A plant-based diet for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.J Geriatr Cardiol. 2017;14(5):342-354. doi:10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.05.009
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee.2. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes:Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024.Diabetes Care. 2024;47(Suppl 1):S20-S42. doi:10.2337/dc24-S002
Gutin I.In BMI we trust: Reframing the body mass index as a measure of health.Soc Theory Health. 2018;16(3):256-271. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0055-0
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prediabetes - your chance to prevent type 2 diabetes.
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