Diabetes: Symptoms, Risks and Treatment
Diabetes is a long-term condition in which blood sugar stays higher than it should. With regular monitoring, medication and lifestyle support, most people manage it well.
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This page explains the condition in plain language: what it is, what causes it, what to watch for, and when a symptom needs urgent attention rather than an appointment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes means the level of glucose in your blood stays higher than it should, because the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use it properly. Type 2 diabetes, by far the most common, develops gradually and is strongly linked to weight, diet and activity. Type 1 is an autoimmune condition, usually appearing earlier in life, where insulin is not produced at all.
It is very manageable, and that is the important point. What causes harm is not the diagnosis but years of uncontrolled blood sugar quietly damaging the kidneys, eyes, nerves and blood vessels — which is exactly what treatment and monitoring prevent.
Symptoms
Type 2 diabetes often causes no symptoms for years, and is frequently found on a routine blood test.
- Passing urine more often, particularly at night
- Unusual thirst
- Tiredness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Cuts and wounds that are slow to heal
- Recurrent infections, including skin, gum and urinary infections
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Causes and risk factors
Type 2 diabetes results from a combination of factors, several of which you can influence.
- Being overweight, particularly around the abdomen
- Physical inactivity
- A diet high in refined carbohydrate and sugar
- Family history — South Asians develop type 2 diabetes at a lower body weight and younger age than many other populations
- Increasing age
- Previous gestational diabetes, or polycystic ovary syndrome
- High blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol, which cluster with it
When to seek help
The first group needs emergency care today. The second warrants an appointment.
Go to emergency now
- Vomiting with high blood sugar, deep rapid breathing, or breath that smells sweet or of nail polish
- Confusion, extreme drowsiness, or difficulty waking someone with diabetes
- Blood sugar that is very low with sweating, shakiness and confusion — treat with sugar immediately and get help
- A foot ulcer, or a foot that is red, swollen, hot or discharging
Book an appointment
- Any of the symptoms above, for testing
- A blood sugar result that was borderline or high
- Diagnosed diabetes that has not been reviewed for a year
- Blood sugar readings that are consistently outside your target range
- Numbness, tingling or burning in the feet
- Deteriorating vision
- Planning a pregnancy with diabetes
How it is diagnosed
Diabetes is diagnosed on blood tests, not on symptoms.
- Fasting blood glucose
- HbA1c, which reflects average blood sugar over roughly the previous three months
- Glucose tolerance testing in some cases
- Urine testing for protein, to check the kidneys
- Cholesterol, kidney function and blood pressure, since these are managed together
Treatment
Treatment aims to keep blood sugar in a safe range and to protect the organs that high sugar damages.
Diet and activity
The foundation, not an optional extra. Sustained changes to what and how much you eat, plus regular activity, can substantially reduce medication needs in type 2 diabetes.
Oral medication
Tablets that improve insulin sensitivity or increase insulin release, adjusted against your results.
Insulin
Essential in type 1 diabetes, and used in type 2 where tablets are no longer sufficient. Needing insulin is not a personal failure.
Screening for complications
Regular checks of kidneys, eyes, feet and cardiovascular risk — which is how complications get caught while they are still reversible.
Managing the rest
Blood pressure and cholesterol control, because most harm from diabetes arrives through the blood vessels.
Living with it
Diabetes is largely self-managed, with support. These are the things that matter most.
- Take medication consistently, and do not stop it because your sugar has improved
- Check your feet daily for cuts, blisters and colour changes — reduced sensation means injuries go unnoticed
- Attend eye screening, even with perfect vision
- Keep to your monitoring schedule rather than testing only when you feel unwell
- Carry something sugary if you take insulin or medication that can cause low blood sugar
- Tell any doctor treating you that you have diabetes, including before surgery
Frequently asked questions
Can type 2 diabetes be reversed?
Blood sugar can return to a normal range in some people with type 2 diabetes — usually through substantial, sustained weight loss and dietary change, particularly early after diagnosis. That is often called remission rather than cure, because the tendency remains and sugar can rise again. It is a genuinely worthwhile goal and worth discussing with your doctor.
Why do South Asians get diabetes at a lower weight?
People of South Asian origin tend to develop insulin resistance at a lower body mass index and a younger age, with more fat carried around the abdomen and organs. It means the weight thresholds used elsewhere underestimate risk here — which is a reason to be screened earlier rather than a reason for fatalism.
Do I have to take medication for life?
Not necessarily in type 2 diabetes. Some people reduce or stop medication after sustained weight loss and dietary change. But do not stop or reduce anything on your own — your doses need adjusting against blood tests, and stopping abruptly can send your sugar up sharply.
How often should my diabetes be reviewed?
Typically every three to six months for blood sugar control, with an annual review covering kidneys, eyes, feet, blood pressure and cholesterol. More often if your control is unstable or you have just started new treatment.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your history, medication or test results. Please speak to a qualified doctor about your own symptoms and treatment. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate help.
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