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Type 2 Diabetes
What you need to know
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body processes blood sugar (glucose). It is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for over 90% of cases worldwide.
Unlike Type 1 diabetes, where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Book a screening: Find your GP practice using our navigation map page. Call the number provided to book now.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is often linked to a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. Key risk factors include:
- Age: The chance increases as you get older, especially after 45, mostly in combination with the main risk factors below — rather than age alone.
- Weight: Being overweight or obese is a significant risk factor.
- What you eat: A diet high in processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by contributing to weight gain and disrupting insulin sensitivity.
- Family history: Having a parent or sibling with Type 2 diabetes increases your risk.
- Physical inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle can lead to insulin resistance.
- Ethnicity: Some ethnic groups, including those who are Black Caribbean, Black African or South Asian are at much higher risk, and at risk from a younger age (25).
- Health conditions: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can increase your risk.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes often develops slowly, and symptoms may be mild or go unnoticed. Common signs include:
- Feeling tired
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
- Increased thirst and frequent urination
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Itching around the genital area
- Constantly getting thrush
- Unexplained weight loss
If left untreated, Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, and vision problems.
How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests that measure your blood sugar levels. These tests may include:
- Fasting plasma glucose test: Measures blood sugar after an overnight fast.
- A1C test: Provides an average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months.
- Oral glucose tolerance test: Measures blood sugar before and after drinking a sugary drink.
Early detection is essential for managing the condition well and preventing complications.
Managing type 2 diabetes
While there is no cure for Type 2 diabetes, it can be managed through:
- Healthy food: Balanced meals rich in vegetables, wholegrains and lean proteins.
- Regular exercise: At least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
- Medications: Some people may need oral medications or insulin therapy.
- Monitoring blood sugar: Regular checks can help people stay on top of this condition.
- Weight management: Losing even a small amount of weight can improve insulin sensitivity.
Why screening matters
Many people with Type 2 diabetes don’t experience symptoms in the early stages. Screening is the only way to detect the condition before it leads to serious health problems. If you have risk factors or are over 45, getting screened is important.
Pre-diabetes — where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diabetic, though you are at serious risk of becoming diabetic soon — can be found during a screening too, giving you a better chance at intervention to prevent diabetes from developing at all.
Book a screening today
Don’t wait for more symptoms to appear, or for existing symptoms to get worse. Early detection of type 2 diabetes can prevent complications. If you’re at risk, book a screening now. Here’s how:
- Visit our navigation page, scroll down to the interactive map.
- Locate your GP practice clinic, or the one closest to you.
- Call the number listed to book, or visit their website link for more ways to contact them.