ThanksDoc
Sign in
Skip to content

Type 2 diabetes

Raised blood sugar, often silent. Manageable with lifestyle, monitoring, and treatment.

Speak to a GP about type 2 diabetesFrom £79

In short

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are common and often silent. Caught early, they respond well to lifestyle change, with medication where needed, and good control prevents serious complications.

Overview

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition where blood sugar is too high because the body doesn't use insulin properly. It develops gradually, often without symptoms, and is strongly linked to weight, activity, and genetics. Left unmanaged it raises the risk of heart, kidney, eye, nerve, and foot problems, but it responds very well to lifestyle changes and treatment.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Passing more urine than usual, especially at night
  • Tiredness
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Blurred vision
  • Frequent infections, or slow-healing cuts
  • Often no symptoms at all in the early stages

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book a GP if you have symptoms of diabetes, risk factors, or want testing, or if you've been told you have prediabetes. Call 999 for very high sugar with vomiting, rapid breathing, drowsiness, or confusion.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • Very high blood sugar with vomiting, deep or rapid breathing, drowsiness, or abdominal pain (call 999)
  • Symptoms of very high sugar: extreme thirst, lots of urine, and feeling very unwell
  • Any new confusion or reduced consciousness

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • Assessment of symptoms and risk factors
  • Guidance on diagnostic blood tests (HbA1c) and interpreting results
  • Diagnosis of prediabetes and how to prevent progression
  • Lifestyle support (diet, weight, activity) that can dramatically improve blood sugar
  • Prescription of medication such as metformin where appropriate
  • Advice on the checks that protect eyes, kidneys, feet, and heart, coordinated with your NHS GP

What we don't do

  • Emergency treatment of diabetic emergencies (call 999)
  • Insulin initiation and specialist diabetes/complication care (coordinated with NHS)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about type 2 diabetes starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about type 2 diabetes

How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?
Usually with an HbA1c blood test (a measure of average blood sugar over 2-3 months), sometimes repeated. We guide you on the right test and what the result means.
Can type 2 diabetes be reversed?
Many people can achieve remission, especially early on, through significant weight loss and lifestyle change. Even where not, good control greatly reduces complications.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes means blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet in the diabetes range. It's a warning sign and an opportunity, lifestyle changes can prevent or delay diabetes.
Will I need medication?
Not always at first, lifestyle changes come first for many. Metformin is the usual first medication where needed. Ongoing diabetes care is best coordinated with your NHS GP.
See all conditions we can help with

Ready to talk to a GP about type 2 diabetes?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

Start on WhatsApp

7 days a week · 08:00–22:00 · WhatsApp or email