As GPs we often see patients who are at risk of diabetes. The symptoms of diabetes aren’t always easy to spot and often patients live with the condition for many years undiagnosed.

Diabetes falls into 2 groups, Type 1, which mainly develops in childhood and requires insulin injections; and Type 2, developing later in life and can easily go unrecognised for years.

About 1 in 16 people in the UK have diabetes. 90% have Type 2 diabetes.

A decade ago Type 2 Diabetes was considered an illness of late middle age, now we see patients as young at 16 or 17 presenting with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

What are the risks for getting Type 2 Diabetes? Being overweight, doing little exercise and having a high sugar diet all contribute. Having a family history of type 2 diabetes makes you 2-6 times more likely to develop it yourself.

How can you reduce your risks? Eating a healthy diet, this includes fresh fruit and vegetables, being active daily and exercising.

What symptoms could indicate a problem? Being very thirsty, tiredness, recurrent skin infections.

If you think you may be diabetic where can you go for help? The local pharmacists, your GP practice. Visit the diabetes UK website which has lots of information and advice.

What about treatment? Patients are often scared they will need insulin, this can lead to them not seeing us sooner. However, very few Type 2 diabetics ever need insulin. Treatment can entail just dietary changes and weight loss with annual bloods tests, it could be tablets. Over the past 5 years the range of treatments available has greatly improved and increased.

We get asked whether a diagnosis of diabetes will alter your life – it doesn’t have to at all, your diabetes can be well controlled, you can lead a long and healthy life free from the symptoms that you may have struggled with for years.