A new survey by Bupa has revealed that 68% of people tend to assume that nothing is wrong with them, even if they have what they consider to be 'minor symptoms' of type 2 diabetes.
With over 850,000 people in Britain thought to have undiagnosed diabetes, the private healthcare service is trying to raise awareness so that people take a look at their lifestyles and visit their GP if in doubt that they may be at risk.
HuffPost UK Lifestyle spoke to Dr Tim Woodman, a medical director at Bupa who said: "Most people seem to be are aware of what leads to type 2 diabetes, for example their lifestyle choices, but 54% of people say they ignore the long-term health consequences.
"They are also mindful of the symptoms, and over a third (35%) of people say they have symptoms linked with Type 2 diabetes. But worryingly we found that over two thirds (68%) of people assume nothing is wrong and will not visit a doctor if they have what they consider to be ‘minor’ symptoms, commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes- which is a must."
Some of the symptoms of diabetes include feeling tired and thirsty, and Dr Woodman highlights that the problem with this is that it comes on gradually, so most people don't notice it comes on at all.
But aside from symptoms, the survey also unearthed the worrying fact that a staggering 89% of Brits make lifestyle choices that greatly increase the chance of diabetes. These included eating a lot of sugary foods and not doing enough exercise.
Story continues below the slideshow:
16 Foods Good For Longevity
Asparagus(01 of17)
Open Image ModalAsparagus is anti-inflammatory and provides digestive support, according to "The Longevity Kitchen," a book that explains the life-extending benefits of healthy foods. (credit:Alamy)
Avocado(02 of17)
Open Image ModalIn addition to helping lower levels of bad cholesterol, avocados destroy cancerous and precancerous cells, according to "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Alamy)
Basil(03 of17)
Open Image ModalThis anti-inflammatory herb has been shown to "slow the growth of disease-causing bacteria" and protect liver cells, according to "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Alamy)
Blueberries(04 of17)
Open Image ModalThis superfruit is anti-inflammatory and helps improves brain and heart health, wrote Rebecca Katz and Mat Edelson in "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Shutterstock)
Coffee(05 of17)
Open Image ModalDark Chocolate(06 of17)
Open Image ModalThis treat can reduce your blood pressure and improve your heart health. Not surprisingly, studies also show dark chocolate to be a mood enhancer, according to "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Alamy)
Garlic(07 of17)
Open Image ModalGarlic may not be good for your breath, but it does help prevent damage to blood vessels, wrote the authors of "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Alamy)
Green Tea(08 of17)
Open Image ModalAccording to "The Longevity Kitchen,"green tea has several major health benefits. The antioxidant found in green tea is useful in treating breast, lung and prostate cancer. Green tea also prevents bad cholesterol from forming and can help you lose weight by suppressing your appetite. (credit:Alamy)
Kale(09 of17)
Open Image Modal"[Kale] goes way off the charts with certain nutrients, providing more than ten times the recommended daily intake of vitamin K, a key regulator of inflammation, and three times the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which is vital to eye health and maintaining moisture in the skin and mucous membranes," according to "The Longevity Kitchen." Kale can also reduce your cholesterol, and is associated with reduced risk of ovarian, breast and colon cancer. (credit:Shutterstock)
Olive Oil(10 of17)
Open Image ModalOlive oil has several major health benefits: it helps protect the heart, reduces the risk of respiratory, colon, upper GI track and breast cancer, and helps prevent stroke, according to "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Alamy)
Pomegranate(11 of17)
Open Image ModalIn addition to being anti-inflammatory, pomegranate is good for your cardiovascular health and helps lower blood pressure, wrote the authors of "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Getty Images)
Sweet Potato(12 of17)
Open Image ModalAs stated in "The Longevity Kitchen," this tasty tuber helps regulate blood pressure, provides support for your immune system and contains nutrients that help reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. (credit:Alamy)
Thyme(13 of17)
Open Image ModalThis fragrant spice helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and also helps neutralize common pathogens such as E. Coli, according to "The Longevity Kitchen." (credit:Alamy)
Walnuts(14 of17)
Open Image Modal"Wanuts offer tremendous heart health benefits," the book's authors write. "They reduce inflammation, bad cholesterol (LDL), and risk of blood clots and can help prevent bone loss." (credit:Alamy)
Wild Salmon(15 of17)
Open Image ModalSalmon contins more healthful omega-3 fatty acids than any other fish. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation throughout the body and may reduce the risk of macular degeneration, which causes blindness. (credit:Alamy)
Yogurt(16 of17)
Open Image ModalAs stated in "The Longevity Kitchen," yogurt helps maintain and restore healthy bacteria in our body and fights against conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea and Crohn's disease. (credit:Alamy)
'The Longevity Kitchen'(17 of17)
Open Image ModalThere are several risk factors, says Dr Woodman.
- You are over 40 (or over 25 if you are South Asian)
- You have a close family member with diabetes (parent, brother or sister)
- You are overweight, with a large waist size (over 80cm (31.5 inches) for women, 94cm (37 inches) for men, or 89cm (35 inches) for South Asian men)
- Being South Asian, Black African, African Caribbean – even if you were born in the UK
- You have ever had high blood pressure, a heart attack or a stroke
- You're a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome and overweight
- f you're a woman and you've had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby over 10 pounds
He adds: "Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be hereditary, so if a close member of your family has the conditions you should have regular check ups. While some risk factors such as age, gender and ethnicity can't be changed – making lifestyle changes can dramatically reduce your risk.
"We know that up to 80% of cases of Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented, and risk can be reduced by up to 60% after making some basic lifestyle changes. If you are overweight, every kilogram you lose could reduce your risk by up to 15%. Be more conscious of your diet and exercise – small changes can make a big difference."
SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 2:
- feeling very thirsty
- urinating frequently, particularly at night
- feeling very tired
- weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
- itchiness around the vagina or penis, or regular bouts of thrush (a yeast infection)
- blurred vision that is caused by the lens of your eye becoming very dry
- cramps
- constipation
- skin infections
Source: NHS.UK/Diabetes UK
To assess your level of risk, visit the Bupa and Diabetes UK’s diabetes risk tool and management tool ‘Type 2 and Me’ by clicking here.