Diabetes
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
Find support to manage your diabetes, lose weight or change the way you eat
Diabetes UK support helpline
0345 123 2399*, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Call Diabetes UK's helpline to speak to their highly trained advisors who have counselling skills and an extensive knowledge of diabetes.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes can be a serious condition if not managed, but really small changes can make a big difference to help you live a healthy life, like walking and eating more vegetables.
If you are of South Asian particularly Bangladeshi & Pakistani, Black African & Caribbean, or South East Asian heritage you are more at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Know your risk
Find out what you can do to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and know the signs and symptoms of diabetes to act early and turn type 2 diabetes around.
Use the Diabetes UK "Know Your Risk" tool to find out if you’re at risk of type 2 diabetes.
For more advice and information on diabetes, please visit Diabetes UK or the NHS website.
What are the symptoms?
- Needing to go the toilet to wee more often, especially at night.
- Being really thirsty.
- Being more tired than usual.
- Losing weight without meaning to.
- Thrush
- Cuts taking longer to hear
- Blurry vision
- Being more hungry than normal.
How can I prevent type 2 diabetes?
You can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by:
- Eating healthily
- Doing more exercise
- Losing weight if you are advised by a medical professional to do so
Looking after your eyes
When you have diabetes, it's even more important to look after your eye sight. Find out how to get an eye check on our 'Opticians' webpage.
Recipe finder
Looking to try something new? Diabetes.org.uk have loads of recipes to choose from.