Do you know the signs of type 2 diabetes? | Central

Having a poor diet is the world's deadliest risk to health, accounting for one-fifth of deaths because of its links to heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Diabetes affects 4.7 million people in the UK, including over 290,000 in the East Midlands and many other undiagnosed people.

Do you know the signs of type 2 diabetes and can you manage it in the event of a diagnosis?

What are the causes of type 2 diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone in our body that controls blood sugar in our blood.

Insulin breaks down glucose in the body and allows it to pass from our blood cells to body tissues, such as muscle cells, when we need a quick energy boost.

But type 2 diabetes disrupts this process.

Your body can no longer control the amount of glucose in your blood because it is unable to react properly to insulin. Your body continues to break down the carbs from your food and drink as usual and turn them into glucose that the pancreas tries to regulate by releasing insulin.

But as insulin does not work properly, the blood glucose level continues to raise your blood sugar so that your body can control its control, causing blood sugar to rise.

What are the symptoms?

Be aware that many people with type 2 diabetes do not show or notice symptoms.

How do you manage type 2 diabetes?

The effects of diabetes can be managed with appropriate treatment and care, with symptoms even reversible in some cases.

Diabetes UK urges people over the age of 40 to go for an NHS health check for free and to check their risk of developing type 2 diabetes using the organization's online tool.

For more tips on managing type 2 diabetes, visit Diabetes UK.

Discover your risk of type 2 diabetes.