Diabetes Week, the annual educational and advocacy event organised by Diabetes UK, will take place between June 9th and 15th, 2025. With figures from the charity suggesting that almost 4.6 million people currently have diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the UK, and an estimated 1.3 million more living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, Diabetes Week is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the condition.
Despite the prevalence of diabetes, however, it’s very normal for people to have questions, worries, and fears about what lies ahead when newly diagnosed. So, whether you have been diagnosed with type I, type II, or another form of diabetes, this article will ease you into your diabetes journey from diagnosis to management, breaking down what to expect and how to tackle this new chapter step-by-step.
One of the first things that your GP will do is to help you understand the type of diabetes you have and how this could affect your body and lifestyle. In general, diabetes impacts the way that your body processes glucose, but there are variations in how the condition works. Type I diabetes occurs when your body stops producing insulin, and this is often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. Type II diabetes, which accounts for 88% of cases in the UK, develops when your body does produce insulin, but doesn’t use it efficiently or doesn’t produce enough of it.
Managing diabetes is a lifelong journey, but it isn’t something you have to go through alone. Your GP will be able to direct you to various resources to support you, and you will probably require regular check-up’s, blood tests, and other screenings as part of your ongoing care plan. If you’re concerned, you may be able to request an appointment with a dietician to help design a meal plan that works best for you in making lifestyle adjustments, and in some cases, your GP may refer you to see an endocrinologist, who had a medical specialist who focuses on hormone-related conditions in the body. Mental health support may also be available in your area to help you adjust emotionally to life with diabetes.
Long-term, it’s important to book regular eye tests, blood pressure monitoring, and other health checks to keep on top of your overall health and avoid potential complications.
The most important way of managing diabetes constructively is to make positive changes to your lifestyle. These don’t have to happen overnight, but can be implemented in small, gradual steps. Over time, this will make a big difference to your health and quality of life.
To find out more about diabetes and the importance of regular testing to help spot the early signs of the condition, please contact the team at Suresign today by clicking here.
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