• Topic
• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Causes and risk factors >> Causes and risk factors

Causes and risk factors

• Condition
• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Diabetes Type 2

Publication date: 1st March 2008           Last updated: November 2010

Review date: November 2012

 

Diabetes type 2 occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin produced does not work properly (insulin resistance).  We interviewed 40 people about their experiences of diabetes type 2. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

• Clip
• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> Nicky knows many people with diabetes who are not overweight and believes that the main cause is genetic.

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.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Andy - Interview 04 >> Andy doesn't know exactly what caused his diabetes but says that chronic pain has always made exercise painful.

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 36 - 45 >> Lawrence - Interview 33 >> Lawrence has wondered about the causes of his diabetes and thinks that a series of stressful events may have caused it.

Diagnosed a year ago, Lawrence takes gliclazide and losartan.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Stuart - Interview 12 >> Stuart drives a taxi for a living and feels it hasn't helped with his diabetes.

Stuart was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago. Currently he controls his diabetes by diet alone and takes no medication.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Helen - Interview 09 >> Helen was under stress at work and wonders if too much adrenaline pumping round her body might have triggered diabetes.

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 35 and under >> Zoe - Interview 34 >> Initially Zoe thought that her weight loss was a sign of diabetes.

Zoe was diagnosed 12 years ago. She also has polycystic ovary syndrome. She takes insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Paul - Interview 20 >> He feels resigned to having diabetes and prefers to focus on controlling it as much as possible.

Paul was diagnosed 14 years ago when he was in hospital for a minor op. He takes metformin and uses other medication to control blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Alex - Interview 07 >> Alex thinks his drink problems played a part in causing his diabetes.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Adrian - Interview 13 >> Adrian didn't feel particularly surprised by his diagnosis because his father had had heart disease and diabetes.

Adrian was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago. Since then lymphangiectasia (a lymphatic disorder) has also been diagnosed. He takes metformin and gliclazide.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Tina - Interview 17 >> Tina was diagnosed in her early thirties and felt angry with herself because she had known all along that diabetes ran in her family.

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 56 - 65 >> Isabel - Interview 28 >> Isabel blames many aspects of her former lifestyle for her diabetes.

Diagnosed when she was 57. Isabel was taking metformin and pioglitazone at the time of interview.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Andy - Interview 04 >> Andy had felt as though he was young and invincible and says being told he had diabetes was one of the worst moments of his life.

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 56 - 65 >> Duncan - Interview 27 >> Duncan thinks he may have had diabetes for years before being diagnosed because he was overweight and drinking too much.

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 36 - 45 >> Nasir - Interview 21 >> Nasir was told his diabetes was probably hereditary but he says he's also been overweight for some time.

Diagnosed 10 years ago, Nasir takes metformin and gliclazide.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Mrs Patel - Interview 37 >> Mrs Patel and five of her siblings have diabetes which they inherited from their father.

Diagnosed 15 years ago. Mrs Patel takes metformin and insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Mike - Interview 16 >> Mike thinks diabetes is caused by hereditary factors as well as lifestyle.

Diagnosed in 2002. Mike controls his diabetes with diet alone.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Duncan - Interview 27 >> Duncan thinks that his old habits of eating lots of takeaways and heavy drinking may have caused his diabetes.

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 46 - 55 >> Pamela - Interview 08 >> Pamela attributes her diabetes to both hereditary and lifestyle factors.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Mike - Interview 16 >> Mike thinks diabetes is caused by hereditary factors as well as lifestyle.

Diagnosed in 2002. Mike controls his diabetes with diet alone.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Mrs Patel - Interview 37 >> Mrs Patel and five of her siblings have diabetes which they inherited from their father.

Diagnosed 15 years ago. Mrs Patel takes metformin and insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 66 - 69 >> Mrs Patel - Interview 37 >> Mrs Patel and five of her siblings have diabetes which they inherited from their father.

Diagnosed 15 years ago. Mrs Patel takes metformin and insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Pamela - Interview 08 >> Pamela attributes her diabetes to both hereditary and lifestyle factors.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Mike - Interview 16 >> Mike thinks diabetes is caused by hereditary factors as well as lifestyle.

Diagnosed in 2002. Mike controls his diabetes with diet alone.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 35 and under >> Zoe - Interview 34 >> Initially Zoe thought that her weight loss was a sign of diabetes.

Zoe was diagnosed 12 years ago. She also has polycystic ovary syndrome. She takes insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> Nicky knows many people with diabetes who are not overweight and believes that the main cause is genetic.

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.