October ‘22 Health & Wellbeing Blog! Type 2 Diabetes

There are currently over 4 million people diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in the UK, at least 1 million who have it but not diagnosed, and approximately 13.6 million people close to developing this disease (pre-diabetes).

Disclaimer : I am not a GP, therefore always follow your GP’s advice on medication or before undertaking a diet change or strenuous physical activity.

Firstly, those stats above have really taken me by surprise! I had no idea that Type 2 Diabetes was so common. If you combine the diagnosed with the un-diagnosed, it makes up almost 10% of the population. When you add in the 13.6 million people with pre-diabetes, we are around the 30% mark of the UK population!

 What is Type 2 Diabetes?

The national institute of Diabetes describe exactly what it is;

“Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes mainly from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Too much glucose then stays in your blood, and not enough reaches your cells.”

A great animation can be found on this YouTube link HERE.

Type 2 Diabetes is a very serious condition and can be lifelong, lead to disabilities and many other issues!

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

There are many factors that can cause Type 2 Diabetes from ethnicity and genetics to having pre-diabetes. These examples are the very low percentage of factors causing Type 2 Diabetes. By far the largest linked factor is lifestyle choices we make such as a poor diet and lack of physical activity.

All adults who are considered overweight should take a Diabetes test. Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to measure whether someone is overweight.

This is a very simple calculation, just divide your weight in kilos by your height in metres squared.

Example – Weight 79kilos / 1.8m squared (3.24) = 24.38 BMI

To reference your BMI score, use this table below. There are many online calculators that can quickly work out your BMI score.

Sometimes, not everything is how it may appear though. You can still have dangerous fat around the organs if leading an unhealthy lifestyle, but may appear slim and slender. Therefore, if you are someone who appears slim, an unhealthy lifestyle can still cause serious issues.

What are the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

• peeing more than usual, particularly at night
• feeling thirsty all the time
• feeling very tired
• losing weight without trying to
• itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
• cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
• blurred vision

Some of these symptoms can lead to very    serious problems in the long-term.

How can we prevent or even reverse Type 2 Diabetes?

Firstly, your GP should be your lead on this and may prescribe certain medication, routines and diet advice specific to you. I can only offer advice on ways to be physically active and explain nutritional advice.

It is no surprise that if you are fit & healthy and eat a relatively balanced diet, your chances of preventing Type 2 Diabetes or even reversing this condition is astronomical!

I realise it seems tedious to some and I go on about it all the time, but exercising and eating well will drastically improve your situation, and not just for Type 2 Diabetes. Physical activity will improve your cardiovascular & respiratory system, improve your mood & brain health, make you more confident and give you tons more energy!

I have many workout videos Here ,from beginner to advanced, and recipe ideas on the Coach Sean YouTube channel if you need some ideas to get started.

Alternately, when I am next visiting your service, please feel free to request any advice in advance or on the day.

I hope you gained some benefit from this blog and I look forward to engaging with you soon.

Coach Sean