Type 2 diabetes: what you need to know
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
There are two main types of diabetes:
type 1 diabetes – where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
type 2 diabetes – where the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.
Recent research has shown that going onto a low-calorie diet can reduce many of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. But what help and advice is out there?
Self care for type 2 diabetes from NHS Direct includes:
maintaining good physical and mental health
preventing illness or accidents
effectively dealing with minor ailments and long-term conditions.
Other helpful websites for those with Type 2 Diabetes: