There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than Type 1, with around 90% of all adults with diabetes in the UK having Type 2.
What is Type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition which develops when your body can’t produce enough insulin, or when the insulin that is produced doesn’t work properly. This causes the level of sugar (glucose) in your blood to become too high.
Diagnosis: It’s essential to be diagnosed as early as possible because Type 2 diabetes will get progressively worse if left untreated. Early diagnosis may also reduce the risk of developing complications later on. This might sound overwhelming, but Type 2 diabetes is a manageable condition that can even be put into remission in some cases. There are simple things that you can do to self-manage your condition between diabetes appointments.
Complications include potential damage to your feet, eyes, heart and kidneys.
- Diabetes is the most common cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age
- It is also responsible for most cases of kidney failure and lower limb amputation (other than accidents)
- People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than those without diabetes
Fortunately, these complications aren’t inevitable if you take action and manage your diabetes well.
Reduce your Risk: It’s very important that you find out if you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes because then you can get support to lower your risk of, or even stop you developing the condition.
- You may also be eligible for your local Healthier You service
- The risk of Type 2 diabetes can be reduced significantly by reducing weight, increasing physical activity and improving diet
- The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP) can support you in taking action in all these areas. Making changes now can lower your risk or even stop you developing Type 2 diabetes.
Find out if you’re at risk on the diabetes.org website (opens in new window).
Your local Healthier You service
The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP) can help put your health back in your hands and reduce your risk of developing this serious health condition.
People from Lancashire and South Cumbria who are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes are being offered tailored support to avoid the potentially life-threatening condition. Those who have been identified by their GP practice as being at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes will be able to access the local Healthier You service.
People on the programme will get tailored, personalised help to reduce their risk. This will include education on healthy eating and lifestyle choices, reducing weight through bespoke physical exercise programmes and portion control, which together have been proven to reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Watch Tom’s story
This animation follows Tom who has been told he is at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
It looks at how Tom can prevent the disease from developing and how he got the help and support he needed from the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Your Diabetes, Your Way
Do you have diabetes? Think you might be at risk of Type 2 diabetes? Want to find out about prevention or remission of Type 2 diabetes? Would like to know more for yourself, a family member or friend? Visit Your Diabetes Your Way for support, information and resources.
Here you will have access to: local group sessions and an interactive diabetes website with online resources to find out more about the condition supporting you to self-manage well, your risk and what you can do to reduce this as well as activities for all abilities in your local area.
Why should I find out more? Well, more than 100,000 people in Lancashire and South Cumbria have Type 2 diabetes (aged 17+) and more than 75,000 people are estimated to be at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. But you can take steps to delay or even prevent Type 2 diabetes. With the average person spending 3.5 hours a year with a healthcare professional, diabetes is a long term medical condition that is mainly self-managed and knowing more will help you to take control of your condition and self-manage it effectively, whilst avoiding complications.
Remember, Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition. But your Type 2 diabetes is manageable, and lots of free support is available. You can learn with others in local Group Sessions, or learn on your own, at your own pace online. Or you can try both, just choose what works best for you.
