Introduction

DIABETES;
is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too
high.
Many more people have blood glucose (sugar) levels above the normal range, but
not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is sometimes known as "
pre-diabetes", and if you have it you have a greater risk of developing full-blo
wn diabetes.
It's very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible, because i
t will get progressively worse if left untreated.
You should therefore visit your GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms, whi
ch include feeling thirsty, passing urine more often than usual and feeling tire
d all the time (see the list below for more diabetes symptoms).
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes

type 1 and type 2.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin to function
properly, or the body s cells don't react to insulin. This is known as insulin res
istance.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the b
ody doesn't produce any insulin at all. In the UK, about 90% of all adults with
diabetes have type 2.
Type 1 diabetes usually develops before the age of 40
often in the teenage years
, while type 2 diabetes tends to be diagnosed in older people.
The danger of type 2 diabetes
The rapid rise in the number of adults developing type 2 diabetes is due to:
increasing levels of obesity
a lack of exercise
increase in unhealthy diets
an ageing population
Even if you feel healthy, you may have a higher than normal blood glucose level
(pre-diabetes) and be at risk of getting the condition.
It's therefore important to take preventative measures by making any necessary l
ifestyle changes, such as eating more healthily, losing weight (if you're overwe
ight) and becoming more physically active.
Read more about the lifestyle changes you can make to help treat and prevent typ
e 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can cause serious long-term health problems. It's the most common cause
of visual impairment and blindness in people of working age. It's also responsi
ble for most cases of kidney failure and lower limb amputation (other than accid
ents).
People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to have cardiovascular dis
ease and stroke than those without diabetes.
Read more about the complications of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes symptoms
Diabetes can cause a variety of symptoms. The main symptoms of undiagnosed diabe
tes include:
urinating frequently, particularly at night
feeling very thirsty
feeling very tired
unexplained weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
itching of the genitals or frequent episodes of thrush
cuts and wounds that heal slowly
blurred vision
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may not be so obvious, because the condition usu
ally develops slowly over a number of years. It may only be picked up during a r
outine medical check-up.
You should visit your GP as soon as possible if you notice any of the above symp
toms.
You can also use the diabetes self-assessment tool on this page to find out your
risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Causes of type 2 diabetes
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas
tomach.

a large gland located behind the s

Insulin controls the amount of glucose in your blood. It moves glucose from the
blood into your cells, where it's converted into energy.
In type 2 diabetes, not enough insulin is produced to maintain a normal blood gl
ucose level (insulin deficiency), or your body is unable to use the insulin that
's produced effectively. This is known as insulin resistance.
Read more about the causes of type 2 diabetes.
At risk groups
Although all adults are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a number of group
s have a particularly high risk of developing the condition.
Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is increased if:
you're over 40 years of age (over 25 if you're South Asian)
you have a close family member with diabetes (a parent, brother or sister)
you're overweight or obese, with a waist size of over 80cm (31.5 inches) for
women and 94cm (37 inches) for men, or 89cm (35 inches) for South Asian men
you're of South Asian, Chinese, African-Caribbean or black African origin (e
ven if you were born in the UK)
you've ever had a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke
you're a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and also overweight
you're a woman and you've had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby
of over 10 pounds
you have a severe mental health condition, such as depression, schizophrenia
or bipolar disorder, and you're taking medication for it
you've been told you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting gly
caemia
Treating type 2 diabetes
There is no cure for diabetes. However, treatment aims to keep your blood glucos

e levels as normal as possible, which will control your symptoms and minimise th
e risk of health problems developing later on.
If you're diagnosed with diabetes, you may be referred to a diabetes care team f
or specialist treatment, or your GP surgery may provide first-line diabetes care
.
In some cases, it may be possible to control your diabetes symptoms by making ch
anges to your lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet and taking regular exerci
se (see below).
However, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, you may eventually need
to take medication to keep your blood glucose at normal levels. You may need to
take tablets initially, but move on to injected therapies, such as insulin, at a
later stage.
Read more about treating type 2 diabetes.
Living with diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, you will be advised to look after your health very
carefully.
Caring for your health will also make treating your diabetes easier and minimise
your risk of developing complications. You should:
eat a healthy, balanced diet
lose weight (if you're overweight) and maintain a healthy weight
stop smoking (if you smoke)
drink alcohol in moderation
take plenty of regular exercise
If you have diabetes, your eyes are at risk from diabetic retinopathy, a conditi
on that can lead to sight loss if it's not treated. Everyone with diabetes aged
12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year.
Read more about living with type 2 diabetes.
Media last reviewed: 14/07/2015
Next review due: 14/07/2017
Gestational diabetes (during pregnancy)
Blood glucose levels can sometimes increase during pregnancy, making difficult f
or insulin to absorb it all. This is called gestational diabetes, which affects
about 5% of pregnant women.
Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an u
nborn baby, so it's important to keep your blood glucose levels under control.
In most cases, gestational diabetes disappears after the baby is born. However,
women who develop the condition have about a 30% risk of developing type 2 diabe
tes in later life.