A 3-minute guide to type 2 diabetes: what is it and how can you prevent it?

Diabetes UK estimates that by 2030, 5.5 million people in the UK will have diabetes, with almost 90 per cent of cases being type 2 diabetes. With these statistics in mind, we thought it was time to find out more.

Consultant endocrinologist at OneWelbeck Endocrinology in London, leading weight loss clinician and author of The Sunday Times bestseller, ‘The Full Diet,’ Dr Saira Hameed helps us separate fact from fiction and discover the must-know realities of handling type 2 diabetes.

Below, she reveals some meaningful lifestyle changes you can make to transform your health and manage your condition.

Q: What is type 2 diabetes?

A: Simply put, type 2 diabetes is your body’s inability to push sugar out of your blood because of insulin resistance. After we eat, our bodies naturally produce the hormone insulin to help us maintain healthy blood sugar levels by pushing excess sugar out of the blood into other parts of the body. However, if you have type 2 diabetes, your body is resistant to insulin, so insulin cannot push enough sugar out of the blood and your blood sugar levels rise. This can lead to organ damage, sight problems and increase your risk of a heart attack.

Q: What is the main cause of type 2 diabetes?

A: Most people assume a high body weight is the cause of diabetes, and while this can be a driver, it’s not the only risk factor. We know that genes play a key role, so if you have a parent or sibling with diabetes, you’re more likely to develop the condition. Ethnic heritage can also play a part – for example, people from the Indian subcontinent are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

You can even be within a healthy weight range and still develop a metabolic disorder. This may be the case if you have a condition called TOFI (thin on the outside, fat on the inside) which means you appear to be slim, but have high levels of unseen internal fat around your pancreas and liver, which increases the risk for type 2 diabetes.

OneWelbeck provides guidance on nutrition, keeping active, lowering your stress levels and practical steps to develop a healthy sleep routine to reduce the risk of diabetes. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Q: Who’s most likely to suffer from the condition?

A: Anyone - you can develop type 2 diabetes at any age. Some of my patients assume it’s an illness of older people, but I have diagnosed type 2 diabetes in young adults and even occasionally in children and teenagers.

Q: What are the main symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

A: The main signs to watch out for are:

• Frequently needing to pass urine
• Constant thirst
• Rapid weight loss
• Fatigue
• Slow-healing wounds
• Recurrent infections
• Thrush

If you have a prolonged experience of one or more of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to get your blood sugar checked.

Q: How can you know if you’re at risk of type 2 diabetes?

A: Currently up to 850,000 people in the UK are living with diabetes, but aren’t aware that they have it. If you recognise yourself in any of my answers or have any other reasons to be concerned that you might have type 2 diabetes, I’d recommend booking a blood glucose screening test and seeking medical advice.

One Welbeck Endocrinology devise personalised, consultant-led treatment plans to help you successfully manage your diabetes and live the life that suits you. (Image: Getty Images)

Q: What lifestyle changes can help to control diabetes?

A: Research shows making a combination of changes to your diet, exercise routine and losing weight can substantially lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. At OneWelbeck we take a holistic approach to diabetes management, providing whole person support that includes nutritional guidance on food choices, support to be regularly active, advice on how to lower your stress levels and practical steps to develop a healthy sleep routine. By offering this 360 support we’re able to empower our patients to take control of their health and make long-lasting healthier lifestyle choices.

Q: What’s the most effective treatment for type 2 diabetes?

A: This depends entirely on you – the best treatment will vary for each individual. I take a case-by-case approach to every patient I see, getting to know their values, goals and hopes for the future, as well as learning about their routine, work and home life and what treatments they’ve tried before. Gathering this information helps me to advise on the best diagnostic tools and to develop a bespoke treatment plan, that works for you. This may entail using intensive lifestyle change and can also involve medication if required.

Some of our patients with diabetes also consider bariatric surgery which can put type 2 diabetes into remission. These are keyhole procedures that are quick, minimally invasive, and require less recovery time. The results can be life-changing for people living with diabetes.

By creating a personalised, consultant-led treatment plan, our overall approach, is that everyone who comes to see us at One Welbeck Endocrinology can access the help they need to restore their confidence, and successfully manage their diabetes so they can lead their life in the way that feels perfectly right for them.

For a flavour of the help Dr Hameed can offer, you can read her book ‘The Full Diet’ which is available to purchase on Amazon.

Find One Welbeck Endocrinology at OneWelbeck, 1 Welbeck Street, Marylebone, London W1G 0AR. The centre is conveniently located in the heart of London, close to Bond Street and Oxford Circus, making it easy to access from wherever you are in the city.

Visit onewelbeck.com to find out more. To book an appointment, call 0203 653 2009 or email bookings.endocrinology@onewelbeck.com.