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• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Lawrence - Interview 33 >> Lawrence explains his careful approach to weight control and diet.

Diagnosed a year ago, Lawrence takes gliclazide and losartan.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Raj - Interview 06 >> Raj feels more energetic since he has been more careful about when he eats.

Raj was diagnosed when he was 41 when he was having routine tests for a blood disorder (polycythemia) that he has had for the last six years. He takes metformin and pioglitazone for his diabetes.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 70 and over >> Philip - Interview 15 >> Philip checks his blood to avoid possible problems from a change of routine.

Philip was diagnosed with diabetes nine years ago when he was hospitalised after a heart attack. He was put straight onto insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 70 and over >> Philip - Interview 15 >> Philip describes how he feels 'light' when his levels are too low.

Philip was diagnosed with diabetes nine years ago when he was hospitalised after a heart attack. He was put straight onto insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Lawrence - Interview 33 >> Occasionally Lawrence's blood glucose is very high which makes him feel sluggish in the mornings at work but by midday he picks up pace.

Diagnosed a year ago, Lawrence takes gliclazide and losartan.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Philip - Interview 02 >> Philip says that remembering to test blood glucose levels at regular intervals can be difficult when he is socialising.

Diagnosed at 46, Philip took metformin for 5 years and is now on insulin (NovoMix 30). He also takes amytriptyline, alloprinolol, simvastatin, bendroflurizide and atenolol.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 70 and over >> Philip - Interview 15 >> Philip says that it is impossible to fool the HbA1c test.

Philip was diagnosed with diabetes nine years ago when he was hospitalised after a heart attack. He was put straight onto insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Pamela - Interview 08 >> When she started following the GI diet Pamela found her glucose levels lowered quickly. When she ate smaller portions she began to lose weight.

Pamela was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago. She takes metformin and rosiglitazone.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Helen - Interview 09 >> Helen says even a 20 minute walk at lunchtimes helped lower her blood glucose levels.

Helen was diagnosed three years ago. She is currently controlling her diabetes with a low dosage of gliclazide + diet and exercise regime.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Alex - Interview 07 >> Alex prefers to know what is happening to him and keep his diabetes under control and checks his blood glucose twice a day.

Alex was diagnosed with diabetes three years' ago. He is currently taking metformin and gliclazide.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Balvinder - Interview 10 >> Balvinder explains why he only tests his blood sugar once every two weeks even though he has had a hypo (audio in Hindi).

Balvinder was diagnosed with diabetes 35 years ago. He was prescribed metformin for many years, and for the last 15 years he has been taking insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Pamela - Interview 08 >> Pamela found using a blood glucose monitor was simple to learn and testing was generally quick and easy.

Pamela was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago. She takes metformin and rosiglitazone.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Andy - Interview 04 >> Andy has chronic pain as well as diabetes so found blood testing painful at first.

Andy has chronic pain as well as diabetes which was diagnosed six months ago. His medication includes Avandamet [rosiglitazone + metformin], simvastatin, Xenical, perindopril, amlodipine and doxazosin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Philip - Interview 02 >> Philip keeps track of his blood glucose readings by putting them on a spreadsheet.

Diagnosed at 46, Philip took metformin for 5 years and is now on insulin (NovoMix 30). He also takes amytriptyline, alloprinolol, simvastatin, bendroflurizide and atenolol.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Alex - Interview 07 >> Alex was put on metformin and gliclazide to get his blood glucose under control.

Alex was diagnosed with diabetes three years' ago. He is currently taking metformin and gliclazide.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Tina - Interview 17 >> When Tina changed to a different type of insulin she tested her blood glucose ten times daily to check her levels.

Tina was diagnosed 12 years ago. Initially she tried to control diabetes with diet alone, then transferred to metformin. In 2004 she changed to insulin and now takes Levimir at night.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Raj - Interview 06 >> Raj still checks his levels and records them for his GP because he may need more medication.

Raj was diagnosed when he was 41 when he was having routine tests for a blood disorder (polycythemia) that he has had for the last six years. He takes metformin and pioglitazone for his diabetes.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Duncan - Interview 27 >> Duncan prefers not to check his glucose levels every day. The strips are too expensive and also he was advised not to.

Diagnosed 2 years ago. Duncan takes metformin, gliclazide, simvastatin, atenolol, ramipril and amlodipine. He has had neuropathy in his feet since 2006 and expects to receive laser eye treatment soon.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Helen - Interview 09 >> Helen changed her medications several times before she stopped getting side effects. She found taking medication with food helped.

Helen was diagnosed three years ago. She is currently controlling her diabetes with a low dosage of gliclazide + diet and exercise regime.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Tina - Interview 17 >> Tina takes one long-acting insulin in the day and another (Levemir) at night which she says works well.

Tina was diagnosed 12 years ago. Initially she tried to control diabetes with diet alone, then transferred to metformin. In 2004 she changed to insulin and now takes Levimir at night.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Philip - Interview 02 >> Philip has recently changed from Mixtard 20 to NovoMix 30 and says he keeps a record of his blood glucose levels.

Diagnosed at 46, Philip took metformin for 5 years and is now on insulin (NovoMix 30). He also takes amytriptyline, alloprinolol, simvastatin, bendroflurizide and atenolol.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Malcolm - Interview 14 >> Malcolm explains how important it is to keep glucose levels balanced and describes what he does if his levels dip too low.

Malcolm's diabetes was diagnosed 15 years ago after a routine eyesight test. Initially his diabetes was controlled by diet but now he takes metformin, gliclazide and pioglitazone.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Balvinder - Interview 10 >> When Balvinder's levels are dipping too low he starts to feel 'shaky' and eats a piece of fruit or has a sweet drink (audio in Hindi).

Balvinder was diagnosed with diabetes 35 years ago. He was prescribed metformin for many years, and for the last 15 years he has been taking insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Gareth - Interview 24 >> Gareth used to be a paramedic and so knows the difference between hypos and hypers. He says a mild hypo feels like 'walking on eggshells'.

Gareth was diagnosed 11 years ago. At first he was prescribed tablets, but is now taking insulin which he prefers.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> By controlling her blood sugar levels and exercising, Nicky dramatically improved the neuropathy she had in her feet.

Diagnosed 4 years ago. Nicky was taking metformin but having established very good control through diet and exercise she no longer takes any medication for diabetes. She also has hypothyroidism.