Getting up in the night for the toilet, feeling thirsty or tired - symptoms that seem harmless but could be sign of rising illness
08.05.2023 - 07:29
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
There are new warnings of simple symptoms - which could easily be dismissed - amid a rise in one serious illness.
Signs like being more thirsty than normal, increased need to pee including getting up more in the night for the toilet, and tiredness are all symptoms of type 2 diabetes. All of these problems can easily be mistaken for everyday issues, but Diabetes UK is alerting the UK that the potentially deadly condition is mounting.
Diabetes UK warns the total could hit 200,000 18-39-year-olds by 2027 out of around five million patients in total. And the charity's analysis shows that two-thirds of that age group do not know the signs.
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Diabetes is a serious condition in which the level of glucose in your body is too high. There are two types of diabetes, with the main difference being that type 1 diabetes is a genetic condition, while type 2 largely results from lifestyle choices.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by problems with a chemical in the body called insulin, says the NHS. It's often linked to being overweight or inactive - and it's a lifelong condition that can affect everyday life, including needing regular check-ups, medication and diet changes.
Rates of type 2 diabetes in the under-40s are now increasing faster than in the over-40s, with cases up by 23 per cent in the last five years. A type 2 diagnosis at a younger age can lead to more complications, including kidney and heart disease, according to the national diabetes group, Diabetes UK.
There are lots of risk factors for type 2 diabetes, which can be complicated, explains the charity. Age, ethnic background, family history and history of other medical conditions can all play a role in