Condition : Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that causes your blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high because of problems related to insulin.

Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas that has a few important roles within your body, including enabling the transfer of glucose from your blood into other cells, which use it for energy. When you don’t have enough insulin, or it doesn’t work properly, the glucose in your bloodstream won’t be passed onto your cells, causing your blood sugar level to become too high.

The main symptoms of diabetes are:

• feeling very thirsty
• peeing more frequently than usual, particularly at night
• feeling very tired
• itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
• blurred vision
• cuts or wounds taking longer to heal

Weight loss is common in people with type 1 diabetes when it first develops and before it's treated, but it's less common in people with type 2 diabetes.

If left untreated, diabetes can cause serious and long-term health problems, such as nerve and eye problems, so it's very important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 is caused by a problem with your immune system that means your body cannot make insulin. It can start at any age, but diagnosis is most common in children and young people and it can develop quickly over weeks or even days.

As it is an autoimmune condition, there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes or lower your risk of getting it, and there is currently no cure.

Type 2 diabetes

Most adults with diabetes have type 2, which is a condition where your body cannot make enough insulin, or you have developed insulin resistance, so the insulin doesn’t work properly.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:

• being overweight or obese
• having an unhealthy diet
• a family history of type 2 diabetes
• being of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean origin
• taking certain medicines, such as steroids, for a long time
• having high blood pressure
• having had gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes

This type of diabetes develops during pregnancy if your body cannot produce enough insulin to meet your extra needs.

It is more common in the second or third trimester, but it can start at any stage of pregnancy. It usually disappears after you’ve given birth.

Visit your GP as soon as possible if you experience symptoms of diabetes. Diagnosis will be made by testing your blood.

Further information on the NHS UK website

• Diabetes

Diabetes UK

Information on preventing and managing diabetes

• Visit Diabetes UK

Know Your Risk of Type 2 (Diabetes UK)

A tool to estimate your risk of type 2 diabetes

• Visit Know Your Risk of Type 2 (Diabetes UK)

Preventing diabetes

Preventing Diabetes is part of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, helping people understand their risk of type 2 diabetes and take steps to prevent it.

The service offers tailored support through group sessions, app-based coaching, and remote options, making it easier to adopt healthier lifestyle changes and reduce future health risks.

• Visit Preventing diabetes website

Product information 

If you would like further information about continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, or need support with product issues, you can contact the manufacturer directly. For details on the most popular devices, press Learn More to access their websites and telephone numbers.

• Learn more