Diabetes type 2 symptoms are not always obvious and may only be discovered after a routine medical check-up. The signs may also be mistaken for less serious health conditions.
But if symptoms do develop, going to the toilet a lot, especially at night, is a common sign.
Others include being really thirsty, feeling more tired than usual, losing weight without trying to, genital itching or thrush, cuts and wounds that take longer to heal, and blurred vision.
Having some of the signs of diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean you definitely have the condition.
But if you do experience the signs, you should always contact your GP, just to make sure.
So if you have symptoms, how can you test for diabetes?
The NHS explains the condition is often diagnosed following blood or urine tests for something else.
But if you see your GP about having symptoms, they will check your urine and arrange a blood test to check your blood sugar levels.
It adds: “It usually takes about one to two days for the results to come back.
“If you have diabetes, your GP will ask you to come in again so they can explain the test results and what will happen next.”
After diagnosis your GP will prescribed medication. You may also need to make changes to your diet and be more active.
You’ll then have to go for regular diabetes type 2 check-ups and look out for certain signs to avoid other health problems.
To control your blood sugar level, and to prevent the condition from developing in the first place, it’s advised people with diabetes type 2 make changes to their diet – eating a healthy, balanced diet is key.
Many people favour snacks in between meals, but picking the wrong snacks can play havoc on your blood sugar levels.
The snacks you choose should be low in fat and sugar, so as not to have big effect on your blood glucose level.
Diabetes UK advises: “We don’t recommend snacks labelled ‘diabetic’, which tend to be expensive and don’t offer you any special health benefits.
“The key is to plan your favourite snacks so they fit into overall diet and watch your portion sizes.”
The charity has five easy diet swaps you can make when it comes to snacks.
When it comes to savoury snacks, try swapping a bag of crisps for plain popcorn with added spices or cinnamon. Bread and dips can also be exchanged for carrots and celery with salsa or low-fat hummus.
To satisfy a sweet tooth, the charity recommends dark chocolate rice cakes instead of chocolate and frozen banana or frozen low-fat yoghurt instead of ice-cream.
If fizzy drinks are your go-to drink, try swapping these for water flavoured with mint or fresh fruit.
Carbohydrates are needed for energy, but it’s important to monitor how much you eat, especially if you have diabetes.
Bread is a staple carb, but with so many different types available, which one is best if you have the condition?
Diabetes UK explains what you should do when it comes to choosing what carbohydrates to eat.