Type 2 diabetes warning: Dr Dawn Harper says those with condition ‘may have no symptoms’

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that means insulin in the pancreas doesn’t work properly. Everybody needs insulin to live and has an essential job to help keep the body healthy. Insulin allows the glucose in the blood to enter the cells and fuel the body. When a person suffers from type 2 diabetes, the impact could create a myriad of health problems. But what are the biggest symptoms to look out for when it comes to type 2 diabetes?

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New research by Simplyhealth revealed when it comes to staying healthy, only 16 percent focus on visiting the doctor when they feel unwell, while the average Briton waiting over two weeks before booking an appointment with their doctor about a minor health concerns.

This appears to be taking its toll, with one in five admitting their illnesses last longer as they can’t get to the doctors due to other commitments.

For type 2 diabetes, ignoring symptoms could have a disastrous effect on one’s health.

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Dr Harper told Express.co.uk: “The biggest problems we have with type 2 diabetes is that there are literally tens of thousands of people walking around out there today with established type 2 diabetes who have no idea because they don’t have symptoms.

We know that by the time an individual is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes they have about a 50 percent chance of already have started to develop some of the complications which may not have been manifested themselves but they are very serious complications with things like eye disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, the risk of heart disease and stroke.”

“The important issue that we have is that a lot of people wouldn’t necessarily know they have type 2 diabetes,” continued Dr Harper.

“One of the reasons why we are so keen that people attend things like the NHS health check to get tested because you may have no symptoms whatsoever.”

When asked who is most at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Dr Dawn replied: “I think if you are a person who is putting on weight especially around your midriff then that could be a sign that you could be at risk and you need to get tested.”

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The NHS said: “Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar in the blood to become too high.

“It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness.

“It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves.

“It’s a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life. You may need to change your diet, take medicines and have regular checkups. It’s caused by problems with a chemical in the body called insulin.

“It’s often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.”

New research by Simplyhealth revealed that most Britons have a “keep calm and carry on” attitude towards their health which could be putting many in danger.

This nonchalant attitude towards health, coupled with lengthy wait times for treatment and lack of access to healthcare, could be having a detrimental impact on the nation’s health, with mental wellbeing a key area of concern.

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