Type 2 diabetes

In type 2 diabetes your body is still producing its own insulin from the pancreas, but the insulin may not be working very well (known as insulin resistance), or your pancreas may not be producing enough insulin (known as insulin deficiency).

Insulin is a hormone and acts like a key to allow the glucose from the carbohydrates we eat (such as bread, cereals, potatoes, pasta and rice), to move from the blood and into the cells of the body where it can be used for energy or stored.

In type 2 diabetes, if the insulin keys are not working very well or there are not enough keys being produced, the glucose remains in the blood stream and can’t get into the body’s cells.

You may start to get some, or all of the symptoms listed below, but some people do not get any symptoms at all:

• Thirst
• Passing urine more often (especially overnight)
• Tiredness or lethargy
• Losing weight without trying
• Infections and poorly healing wounds
• Blurred vision

What causes type 2 diabetes?

Diabetes could develop in anyone, but there are certain things that make us more at risk, which include:

• Age
• Family history of diabetes
• Ethnicity, with South Asian, Chinese, Black African and African-Caribbean being more at risk
• Previous gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy)
• Your weight
• Your lifestyle (your diet and how active you are on a daily basis)

Your weight, diet and lifestyle are the only things that you are able to control and change in order to reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

Where is care provided?

Your GP practice will usually provide your day-to-day diabetes care and can refer you to specialist services in the community or at the hospital when extra advice or support is needed. Specialist services use a range of healthcare professionals who work together to meet people’s needs, this may be for clinical care, education, or both. Care may be delivered in person, remotely, or in groups, and services will make reasonable adjustments so that support is accessible and meets your needs.