Diabetes

Diabetes (Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, PDF only, 3.02MB)

Types of diabetes

Other types of diabetes

Find out about other types of diabetes on the Diabetes UK website

Symptoms of diabetes

The most common symptoms of diabetes are:

feeling thirsty all the time
peeing more than usual
feeling very tired
losing weight without trying

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you or your child has any symptoms of diabetes

You can call 111 or get&t=/">get help from 111 online. Call 111 if you're asking about a child under 5 years old.

See a GP if you or your child:

have a higher risk of developing diabetes

Not everyone with diabetes has symptoms, so it's important to get checked out.

Causes of diabetes

Diabetes is caused by your body not making enough or any of a hormone called insulin, or the insulin not working properly (insulin resistance).

Insulin helps your body use glucose (sugar) for energy. Without it, the level of glucose in your blood becomes too high.

It's not possible to prevent type 1 diabetes because it's usually caused by a problem with your immune system (autoimmune condition).

You may be more likely to get type 2 or gestational diabetes because of your weight, age, ethnicity, or if other people in your family have it.

You can sometimes reduce your risk of getting type 2 and gestational diabetes by making lifestyle changes such as:

eating a balanced diet
exercising regularly
maintaining a healthy weight

Pre-diabetes (non-diabetic hyperglycaemia)

Some people have blood glucose (sugar) levels above the normal range but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is known as pre-diabetes or non-diabetic hyperglycaemia.

People with pre-diabetes are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but the risk can be reduced through lifestyle changes.

If you have pre-diabetes, you may be eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. This helps people make lifestyle changes and has been shown to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

Treatment for diabetes

The treatment you'll have depends on the type of diabetes you have. You'll be treated by a specialist diabetes team in hospital or at your GP surgery.

Type 1 diabetes treatment includes taking a medicine called insulin for the rest of your life, and regularly checking your blood glucose (sugar) levels.

Type 2 diabetes treatment and gestational diabetes treatment includes lifestyle changes such as eating healthily, exercising and trying to lose weight, and sometimes medicines, such as metformin or insulin.

Long-term complications of diabetes

Having diabetes can increase your chance of getting other health problems, including:

heart attack and stroke
kidney problems
nerve damage and foot problems - diabetes can cause damage to nerves (peripheral neuropathy)
sight problems - adults and children aged 12 or over will be
offered diabetic eye screening every 1 to 2 years
gum disease

Complications can develop over time and are linked to high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Managing your blood glucose well and keeping to your agreed target level can lower your chances of getting complications.

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