Karol Selvey, Clinical Lead for long term conditions for NHS Sutton CCG and a local Nurse Practitioner, said: ""For most people diagnosed with diabetes, it is a life-long condition. But the good news is that, by managing your diabetes through making healthy lifestyle choices and taking appropriate medication you can still get the most out of life. Diabetes hasn't stopped sportsmen like Steve Redgrave from achieving their dreams - and it doesn't have to stop you from achieving yours.
"If you have any of the symptoms of diabetes, go and see your GP or Practice Nurse. The sooner you are diagnosed, the sooner we can help you to manage the condition and prevent the health problems that can be associated with diabetes."
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.9 million people. There are also thought to be around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes.
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
•feeling very thirsty
•urinating frequently, particularly at night
•feeling very tired
•weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
Find out more on the NHS Choices website, www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/pages/diabetes.aspx where you can also take a quick and simple test to find out if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes.
If you have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Diabetes UK offers a free online training course called Type 2 Diabetes and Me, which helps you learn how to manage your condition.