Preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes

Many cases of type 2 diabetes could be prevented or delayed by healthy eating, being more active, and losing weight if overweight. 

The symptoms, which involve going to the toilet a lot, being really thirsty, feeling more tired than usual and losing weight without trying, can be easy to miss especially in the early stages. The condition can go undetected for many years, and by the time they’re diagnosed one in three people already have complications with their eyes, feet, kidneys or nerves.

With 12.3 million people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the charity wants to raise awareness of the risk factors so that people can take steps to look after their health and prevent or delay the onset of the condition and its serious complications.

We are recommending that everyone use our free Know Your Risk online tool to find out their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and is urging people aged 40 or over to take up a free NHS health check.