In diabetes, the body cannot use sugar (glucose) properly. There is a build-up of glucose in the blood, which can cause a range of serious symptoms. It can also increase your risk of vascular diseases, such as heart disease.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the body doesn't make any insulin, the hormone that controls levels of sugar in the blood. It usually happens before the age of 40.
- Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body doesn't make enough insulin or can't use insulin properly. This type of diabetes can happen at any age. It's linked to being overweight, and accounts for 90% of cases of diabetes.
There's nothing you can do to avoid type 1 diabetes. A healthy lifestyle can help you to avoid type 2 diabetes.
During an NHS Health Check, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes will be assessed, and you’ll be given the support and advice you need to help reduce your risk.
What happens in diabetes?
When we eat starchy carbohydrates such as bread, pasta and potatoes, or sugary foods such as chocolate or cakes, the digestion of these foods produces a form of energy called glucose.
Our pancreas makes a hormone called insulin, which helps move the glucose into the cells of our body, to give them the energy they need.
If we don’t have enough insulin, or the insulin we produce isn’t working properly, the glucose isn't moved into the cells of our body. Instead, glucose builds up in our blood.
This means the cells in our body aren’t getting the energy they need. A build-up of glucose in the blood can also damage tissues and arteries, and lead to other serious health problems.
Learn more in Diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, symptoms usually develop over the space of a few weeks.
But in type 2 diabates symptoms can creep up gradually. Some people can have type 2 diabetes for years without knowing it: they may think the symptoms are due to getting older, or having a busy lifestyle.
Symptoms include:
- increased thirst
- needing to urinate often
- tiredness that interferes with everyday life
- blurred vision
- genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
- slow healing of wounds
Use our interactive Diabetes self-assessment.
Preventing type 2 diabetes
Getting type 2 diabetes is more likely if you're overweight. This means you can make lifestyle changes that will reduce your risk. These are:
- maintaining a healthy weight, or losing weight if you're overweight
- eating a healthy, well-balanced diet
- making physical activity a part of your daily life
At your NHS Health Check, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes will be assessed, through some straightforward questions and a few simple health tests. Afterwards, your GP or health professional will discuss your results with you.
If your results reveal that you're at a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, you'll be given information and advice on how to keep your risk low.
If you're at a higher risk, you may be offered a blood sugar test and NHS support to help you lose weight.
Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
If your NHS Health Check reveals that you have type 2 diabetes, your GP will talk to you about the medicines and lifestyle changes that will help you.
Finding out you have type 2 diabetes may feel overwhelming, but it needn't stop you having a healthy, active life. Identifying diabetes as early as possible means that you and your GP will be in a position to manage it. Managing your diabetes also reduces the risk of it causing further complications, such as heart disease.
Read about the experiences of people with diabetes in Talk: diabetes blog.
