Diabetes Education Hub
Understanding Type 2 Diabetes
Clear, evidence-based information on type 2 diabetes and prediabetes: who is at risk, the warning signs, how it is diagnosed and how it can be prevented or managed.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition in which the body doesn't use insulin properly (insulin resistance) and, over time, doesn't make enough of it. Blood sugar (glucose) builds up in the blood and, if untreated, damages the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves and feet.
It is the most common type of diabetes and is closely linked to weight, physical activity, diet and family history. Because it develops slowly and often without symptoms, many people live with it for years before they are diagnosed.
25Madults in Africa live with diabetes
73%of them are undiagnosed, the highest of any world region
3Madults in Nigeria, the most in Africa
Source: International Diabetes Federation, IDF Diabetes Atlas, 11th edition, 2025 (figures for 2024, adults aged 20 to 79).
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes means your blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diabetes. It usually has no symptoms, so the only way to know is a blood test. The good news: prediabetes can often be reversed. In the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program, lifestyle changes cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%.
Source: Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. New England Journal of Medicine, 2002.
Type 2 diabetes risk factors
- Age over 45 (risk rises with every decade)
- Overweight or obesity (BMI 25 or more)
- Large waist: over 94 cm for men, over 80 cm for women
- Less than 30 minutes of activity on most days
- A diet low in vegetables and high in refined carbohydrates
- High blood pressure
- A past high blood sugar reading, including in pregnancy
- A parent, brother or sister with diabetes
These are the same factors this diabetes risk test scores, and your results show which ones apply to you.
Warning signs and symptoms of diabetes
- Passing urine often, especially at night
- Constant thirst and a dry mouth
- Tiredness and low energy
- Blurred vision
- Cuts and wounds that heal slowly
- Frequent infections, including thrush
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Unexplained weight loss
Many people have no symptoms at all, which is why risk testing and regular blood sugar checks matter. If you have several of these signs, get a blood test soon rather than waiting.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Only a blood test can diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. Common tests and the American Diabetes Association thresholds are:
| Test | Prediabetes | Diabetes |
|---|
| Fasting blood glucose | 5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L (100 to 125 mg/dL) | 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) or higher |
| HbA1c (3-month average) | 5.7% to 6.4% | 6.5% or higher |
| 2-hour glucose tolerance test | 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L | 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or higher |
A diagnosis usually needs a confirmed result. The WHO uses a slightly higher fasting range (6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L) for impaired fasting glucose. Your clinician will interpret your results.
How to prevent type 2 diabetes
- Lose 5 to 7% of your body weight if overweight
- Walk briskly for 30 minutes, 5 days a week
- Cut sugary drinks, including malt drinks and sweetened juice
- Fill half your plate with vegetables
- Choose beans, whole grains and unripe plantain over refined starch
- Keep "swallow" and rice portions moderate
- Sleep 7 to 8 hours and manage stress
- Check blood pressure and blood sugar every year
Diabetes treatment and care
Type 2 diabetes is managed with healthy eating, activity and, often, medicines such as metformin, other tablets, GLP-1 injections or insulin. Regular checks of blood sugar, HbA1c, blood pressure, kidneys, eyes and feet prevent complications.
HubPharm's diabetes programme provides authentic medicines and glucometer supplies delivered to your door, pharmacist follow-up, and refill and glucose-check reminders through Afiya, our AI health companion on WhatsApp. Never start, stop or change diabetes medicine without medical advice.
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Last updated: November 2026 · HubPharm Africa · For education only, not a substitute for medical advice.