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Type 2 diabetes - how did you find out you had it?

(7 Posts)
Kandinsky Mon 01-Jun-26 08:21:18

My Mother, and now my two older sisters have type 2 diabetes, So it’s looking like I’ll get it ( or possibly already have it )
Did you have symptoms?
Thank you.

Doodledog Mon 01-Jun-26 08:43:28

I don’t have it, but my husband has the hereditary type. He started weeing more often, so knowing that his father, sister and niece all have it I persuaded him to go to the GP and ask for a test, which was positive.

Hereditary diabetes is not widely understood - armchair experts often claim it must have been caused by lifestyle factors, which it wasn’t. It is important to get a diagnosis sooner rather than later, to get in the loop for eyesight checks, foot care and so on. My FIL was registered blind before he died, as he wasn’t diagnosed until too late. My husband gets annual checks and it is well controlled.

Kandinsky Mon 01-Jun-26 08:57:02

Thank you Doodledog

Susan56 Mon 01-Jun-26 08:59:32

I have hereditary diabetes and was diagnosed twenty years ago.

I had no symptoms.I had gone with my husband for his blood test and the nurse said we might as well give you a health check too as you haven't been seen for ages.My husband was fine and I was diagnosed type2🙄

I hadn’t noticed any symptoms but it was a busy time so probably wasn’t paying much attention to myself.

Susan56 Mon 01-Jun-26 09:02:11

I agree Doodledog that it is massively misunderstood.The number of times people say I don’t look diabetic.

I took part in some research at Staffordshire University about misconceptions around diabetes which was really interesting.

loopyloo Mon 01-Jun-26 09:07:19

You need to have the blood test hbaic. Shows what the blood sugar has been over the last few months.
My DM had type 2 so I was not surprised when diagnosed.
Do ask your gp to have the test done

tanith Mon 01-Jun-26 09:31:16

At a checkup I was borderline but despite my efforts it did become type 2 diabetes.