What is diabetes type 2?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance or desensitization and increased blood glucose (sugar) levels. It is a chronic disease that can develop gradually over time and can be linked to both environmental factors and heredity.

How do members experience diabetes type 2?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with diabetes type 2*

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Modafinil Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Rest
Common symptom
Back pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Heating Pad-Hot Packs Lidocaine patch Ibuprofen
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Listen to Music Reading Prayer/meditation
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Tramadol Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Gabapentin
Common symptom
Chronic fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
NADH Pregabalin Relaxation Techniques

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for diabetes type 2*

Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment

(Metformin ER)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
24,314
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (72)
Treatment

(Lantus)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
8,170
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (22)
Treatment

(Glipizide ER)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
4,120
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (12)
Treatment

(Januvia)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1,737
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (12)
Treatment

(Janumet)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
800
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (5)

*Data from patients with diabetes type 2, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with diabetes type 2*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Metformin ER)
Perceived effectiveness
for diabetes type 2 (20 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea abdominal pain 3 more
Total evaluations
20
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (72)
Treatment

(Lantus)
Perceived effectiveness
for diabetes type 2 (5 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (22)
Treatment

(Glipizide ER)
Perceived effectiveness
for diabetes type 2 (1 evaluation)
Side effects
skin lesions
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (12)
Treatment

(Januvia)
Perceived effectiveness
for diabetes type 2 (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (12)
Treatment

(Janumet)
Perceived effectiveness
for diabetes type 2 (3 evaluations)
Side effects
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
diabetes type 2 (5)

*Data from patients with diabetes type 2, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has diabetes type 2 on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 14
20s 210
30s 1,031
40s 2,941
50s 8,773
60s 14,448
70+ 11,994

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 14,011
Female 25,434