Type 2 Diabetes: spot the signs, take control and reduce your risk

Around 200,000 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year in England, putting them at higher risk of developing serious health conditions including heart disease, kidney damage and vision loss.

This Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week, Dr Deepa Shanmugasundaram, System Clinical Lead for Diabetes, discusses the symptoms, how to reduce your risk and the support available.

Type 2 diabetes can develop when your blood sugar levels become too high as your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin it produces does not work properly. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition, type 2 diabetes is often preventable. You can manage, reduce your risk or help your blood sugar levels to return to a safe level with the right support and lifestyle changes.

Are you at risk?

You may be at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you:

• have a family history of diabetes
• are overweight
• have high blood pressure
• have an unbalanced diet or do not do enough exercise
• have a history of gestational diabetes during pregnancy
• are of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean descent.

Symptoms can appear gradually, or not at all. The most common warning signs include feeling thirsty all the time, losing weight without trying, feeling very tired and peeing more than usual.

Check your risk today

Type 2 diabetes is often preventable. Take just a few minutes to check your risk using Diabetes UK’s free online tool.

Take control with an NHS Health Check

If you’re between 40 and 74 years old and don’t already have a long-term health condition, you’re eligible for a free NHS Health Check every five years. This check can detect early signs of type 2 diabetes and other health conditions.

Support to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes

If you’re at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme offers personalised help to improve your diet, increase physical activity, and achieve a healthy weight over nine to 12 months.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible for the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme. This free 12-month support scheme can help you reduce or even reverse your symptoms through targeted lifestyle changes.

Ongoing support is available through diabetes education programmes. Everyone with diabetes is offered an education course when they are diagnosed or soon after. These are designed to help anyone manage this condition effectively and confidently.

A healthier you

Take steps this Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week to help protect your health. Whether it’s attending your NHS Health Check, joining a prevention programme, or supporting a loved one, every action counts.