Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high.
It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness.
It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves.
It's a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life. You may need to change your diet, take medicines and have regular check-ups.
It's caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin.
It's often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can cause serious long-term health problems;
You can prevent Type 2 diabetes by eating a healthy, balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly
Find out your risk of Type 2 diabetes by using the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk Score at https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start
If you think you or a family member may be at risk, ask at your GP practice about your local Healthier You service
There are some groups at higher risk:
- Men
- Those from some segments of the BAME community
- Overweight
- Those with a family history
Your ethnicity may put you at a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes

Diabetes UK