Type 2 Diabetes

 

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance.

What causes Type 2 diabetes?

For those living with Type 2 diabetes, your body breaks down the carbohydrates from your food and turns it into glucose. The pancreas will respond to this by releasing insulin, however because of your body’s insulin resilience, your blood glucose levels will continue to rise.
Subsequently, your body will release more insulin. For those with Type 2 diabetes, this may cause the pancreas to overwork meaning your body will makes less insulin, therefore increasing your higher blood glucose levels even more.

Managing Type 2 Diabetes

With the right care and guidance, the effects of Type 2 diabetes and high blood glucose levels can be managed and sometimes even reversed.
The main ways of treating Type 2 diabetes is by eating a healthy, balanced diet, doing more exercise and losing weight.

You are more at risk of Type 2 diabetes if you are:

• Over the age of 40 and are overweight
• Are Black African, Caribbean or South Asian
• Have a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
• Have ever had high blood pressure, a heart attack or stroke
• Are a woman who has had polycystic ovaries, gestational diabetes or a baby weighing over 10 pound

Useful resources

Essex Diabetic Eye Screening Programme:
Visit their website for details of clinic locations and how to book an appointment

http://www.sneedesp.co.uk/

British Nutrition Foundation
BNF are a registered charity that provide evidence-based information on food and nutrition. Find out more here: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/

Essex Wellbeing Service
A free weight management programme for adults which follows NHS guidance and is evidence based.
Focuses on healthy eating, portion control and helping you to be more active. View their programmes here https://www.essexwellbeingservice.co.uk/services/weight-management

Healthy Living
Health living us a free, online NHS programme that supports people to live well with Type 2 diabetes.  https://www.healthyliving.nhs.uk/

Patient Education Sessions
North East Essex Diabetes Service (NEEDS) offer Type 2 education courses in a variety of community setting