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Type 2 diabetes is a common, long-term condition where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin it makes doesn’t work properly. This leads to high blood sugar levels, which, if left untreated, can cause serious health problems such as heart disease, kidney damage, nerve damage, and sight loss.
Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 40, but it’s increasingly being seen in younger people, including children and teenagers, especially with rising rates of obesity and inactivity. It’s often linked to lifestyle factors like being overweight, having a poor diet, or low levels of physical activity, though genetics and family history also play a role.
About Type 2 Diabetes
Many people with Type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at first, and it’s often picked up through routine blood tests. When symptoms do appear, they can include increased thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. A blood test confirming raised blood sugar levels is used to diagnose the condition.
How Is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?
Managing Type 2 Diabetes
Most people with Type 2 diabetes can manage their condition through healthy lifestyle changes, such as improving diet, losing weight, and increasing physical activity. Some may also need oral medications, and in some cases, insulin therapy if other treatments aren’t enough to control blood sugar.
Regular blood glucose monitoring is important, though not all people with Type 2 diabetes need to test as frequently as those with Type 1.
Type 2 Diabetes and the NHS
ype 2 diabetes is a major public health issue in the UK, with over 4.4 million people living with the condition and another 2.6 million at high risk (pre-diabetes). It accounts for around 90% of all diabetes cases.
The NHS provides comprehensive services for people with Type 2 diabetes, including diagnosis, education, health checks, and treatment. Programmes like NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP) support people at risk of developing the condition with advice on healthy living.
The cost of treating diabetes and its complications represents around 10% of the total NHS budget. Reducing new cases of Type 2 diabetes and improving care for those already living with it remains a key focus of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Type 2 diabetes is a common, long-term condition where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively, leading to high blood sugar levels. It’s often linked to lifestyle factors like being overweight and inactive, though family history also plays a role. The condition can be managed through healthy lifestyle changes, medication, and sometimes insulin, helping to prevent serious complications like heart disease, kidney damage, and sight problems
