The NHS is urging people to “see your GP” if you have any warning signs of type 2 diabetes. The condition is thought to affect millions of people in the UK, with an estimated 1.3 million people who could have type 2 diabetes and not yet know about it.
According to Diabetes UK, risk factors are “complex and multiple” and include being overweight or obese, as well as age, ethnicity and genetics. Other factors such as income, education, housing, access to healthy food, as well as poorer access to healthcare, have been shown to be strongly linked to an increased risk of developing risk factor obesity, as well as type 2 diabetes itself.
In a new post on X on Thursday, NHS said: “Join the NHS Healthy Living programme today to start learning how to live well with type 2 diabetes. Get free online guidance on eating well, reducing stress and feeling confident to manage your type 2 diabetes wherever you are.”
The programme “supports people to live well with type 2 diabetes” and this includes providing advice about the condition, as well as on eating well, becoming more active, looking after your body and mind, and giving access to other NHS services and support.
You can join, or find out more, here. According to the NHS website, type 2 diabetes symptoms include peeing more than usual, feeling very tired, feeling thirsty all the time, losing weight without trying to, itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush, cuts or wounds taking longer to heal, and blurred vision.
Guidance continues: “See a GP if you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes [and/or] you’re worried you may have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes”.