No symptoms, but risk is raised.
A health check or blood test can assess risk. Sustainable activity, diet, weight and smoking changes can reduce progression for many people.
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Diabetes questions · GP care
Understand the result. Build the next step.
Thirst, passing urine more often, tiredness, weight loss or slow-healing wounds can be signs of diabetes, but not everyone has symptoms. A GP can interpret tests and plan safe follow-up.
New diabetes symptoms in a child or young person, or rapid deterioration with vomiting or drowsiness, need prompt medical assessment because type 1 diabetes can develop quickly.
Choose a suitable route
Choose the right starting point.
Possible type 2 diabetes can be assessed routinely; rapid symptoms, acute illness or possible DKA need urgent care.
Symptoms, results or treatment questions.
Arrange a review for possible diabetes symptoms, an elevated HbA1c, prediabetes, medicine side effects or questions about ongoing checks.
Explore GP appointmentsRapid illness or DKA signs.
Use emergency care for vomiting, abdominal pain, deep breathing, fruity breath, drowsiness or confusion. Use 111 for illness while taking diabetes medicine.
Contact NHS 111Children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes need specialist care. Rapid symptoms in any child or young person need prompt assessment for type 1 diabetes.
Notice the pattern
What changes the next step.
Symptoms, speed of onset and blood-test context guide the safest route.
Thirst and urination
Feeling thirsty all the time and passing urine more often, including at night, are common diabetes symptoms.
Energy and weight
Marked tiredness and unplanned weight loss can occur, particularly when glucose is significantly raised.
Healing and infections
Slow-healing wounds, blurred vision, genital itching or recurrent thrush may be relevant.
Often silent
Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes may cause no symptoms and are found through risk-based or routine testing.
A single result needs interpretation in context. HbA1c, fasting glucose and acute-illness glucose tests answer slightly different questions.
A focused GP assessment
Connect symptoms, test results and long-term risk.
A GP can explain what a result means, whether it needs confirmation and what monitoring or treatment is appropriate.
Explore in-person GP care01
Review symptoms and risk.
Discuss thirst, urination, weight, vision, infections, family history, ethnicity, pregnancy and medicines.
02
Interpret the tests.
Review HbA1c or glucose results, timing, illness or steroid use and whether a repeat or different test is needed.
03
Plan whole-person care.
Consider blood pressure, cholesterol, kidneys, weight, feet, eyes, smoking, lifestyle support and medicine suitability.
A proportionate plan
Manage glucose and protect long-term health.
Type 2 diabetes care combines lifestyle support, education, monitoring and medicine selected around other health conditions.
01
Sustainable lifestyle change
Balanced food choices, regular activity, weight support, smoking cessation and moderated alcohol can improve glucose and cardiovascular risk.
02
Medicine when needed
Treatment is tailored to glucose, heart and kidney health, weight, side effects and preferences. Do not change medicine during illness without advice.
03
Structured monitoring
Regular HbA1c, blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney, foot and eye checks help prevent or detect complications.
If you are unwell with vomiting, diarrhoea or fever, ask your diabetes team or NHS 111 for sick-day advice. Do not stop prescribed medicine unless a professional tells you to.
Prepare for a useful review
Bring results, medicines and the questions behind them.
Bring HbA1c or glucose results with dates, home readings if requested, symptoms, weight change and family history.
List all diabetes medicines and side effects, recent illness or steroid treatment, and the dates of your latest eye, foot, kidney, blood-pressure and cholesterol checks.
Explore GP appointments ↗Good to know
Questions about diabetes.
Practical answers to help you choose a sensible next step without trying to diagnose the concern yourself.
What symptoms can type 2 diabetes cause?
Common symptoms include tiredness, passing urine more often, constant thirst and unplanned weight loss. Blurred vision, slow healing and recurrent thrush can also occur.
How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
Diagnosis uses a blood test measuring glucose, commonly HbA1c. A clinician interprets the result and decides whether confirmation or another test is needed.
What is prediabetes?
It means glucose is above the normal range but not high enough for diabetes. It signals increased future risk and an opportunity for prevention support.
When is diabetes an emergency?
Use emergency care for vomiting, abdominal pain, deep or rapid breathing, fruity-smelling breath, marked drowsiness or confusion, especially with high glucose or known diabetes.
Clinical information: NHS type 2 diabetes symptomsNHS type 2 diabetes treatmentNHS diabetic ketoacidosis. This information is general and does not replace individual medical advice.