Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Awareness Week

28th May 2025

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in a society with a sweet tooth Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week runs from 26 May – 1 June 2025. Diabetes UK estimates there are 6.3 million people at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes based on blood sugar levels.

What is Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where a person’s blood sugar levels are too high. This has to do with a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps your body regulate and use sugar for energy by helping cells absorb sugar from the bloodstream and aiding the storage of excess sugar for later usage. You can think of insulin like a key that unlocks sugar’s entrance into cells. Yet, when you have Type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the insulin produced doesn’t work properly, this is referred to as ‘insulin resistance’. The disease is the leading cause of preventable sight loss in working-age people and a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. You may be The good news is that Type 2 diabetes is preventable, manageable, and reversible by improving your diet and physical activity levels. What’s the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? Whilst both involve high blood sugar levels, Type 1 diabetes is not linked with age or being overweight. The causes are unknown, and it is unpreventable. Only 10% of people with diabetes have Type 1. Type 2 diabetes is much more common. It is linked to lifestyle factors and develops over time. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, it is largely preventable.

What are the symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

The most frequent symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are:

  • Fatigue
  • Urinating more than usual, particularly at night
  • Feeling thirsty all the time
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Blurred vision
  • Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal than usual
  • Itching around your genitals If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to visit your GP. Type 2 diabetes is easier to treat when it is diagnosed earlier.

How can you prevent Type 2 diabetes?

Luckily Type 2 diabetes is both preventable and manageable. This usually involves several healthy lifestyle changes including:

  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Increasing physical activity levels
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Stopping smoking
  • Drinking less Although it’s difficult to adopt these healthy lifestyle changes in a world filled with sugary snacks, fast food and other factors, it is important that we try to incorporate healthy living into our everyday routine.

How can One You help you make healthy lifestyle changes?

One You KCW offer several services that can help residents of Kensington, Chelsea, and Westminster to make healthy lifestyle changes. These include adult weight management classes, 1:1 behavioural coaching, and free resources for residents. What we offer:

If you are a resident of Kensington, Chelsea, or Westminster, you’ll be eligible for our free support so sign up today!