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We are Diabetes UK, the leading charity for people living with diabetes in the UK. Our vision is a world where diabetes can do no harm.
Diabetes: the basics. Diabetes (otherwise known by the scientific name diabetes mellitus) is a complicated condition and there are many different types of diabetes. Here we'll take you through everything you need to know.
Type 2 diabetes is high blood sugar levels due to your body not making enough of a hormone called insulin, or the insulin it makes not working properly — known as insulin resistance. High blood sugar levels over time can cause other health problems like heart attacks and strokes, as well as problems with your eyes, kidneys, and feet.
In the UK, over 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2. High blood sugar that develops during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. It usually goes away after giving birth. Non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (pre-diabetes) Many people have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having 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. Many people have no symptoms.
Each year, more and more people are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This can lead to stroke, blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, limb amputation and early death. Find out how the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme can help those at high risk of Type 2 diabetes to make lifestyle changes and reduce their risk.
Currently over three million people are living with diabetes in England and estimates suggest that that number is expected to rise to 4.2 million people by 2030, affecting almost 9% of the population. It is also estimated that around five million people in England are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
