• Clip
• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> Nicky knew she was overweight when she got the diagnosis but she felt so fit and healthy she didn't believe what she was told.

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 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> Nicky reacted badly to some of the suggestions made by her GP when she was first diagnosed.

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 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> Nicky reacted badly to some of the suggestions made by her GP when she was first diagnosed.

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 >> Malcolm - Interview 14 >> Malcolm had a mild case of retinopathy which was found at a routine eye test.

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 36 - 45 >> Gugu - Interview 40 >> Gugu was in hospital for fertility treatment when her diabetes was discovered and at first she just felt irritated.

Gugu was diagnosed 10 years ago. At first she was prescribed metformin. 3 years before the interview she was transferred to insulin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 35 and under >> Wasim - Interview 22 >> Wasim realised how serious diabetes was when he was still in hospital and felt too weak to lift his young son.

Diagnosed a year ago after emergency admission to hospital. Wasim is on insulin (NovoRapid during the day and Lantus at night).

• 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 46 - 55 >> Andy - Interview 04 >> Andy felt shellshocked when first diagnosed and was grateful to his local pharmacist for being so calm and reassuring.

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.

• Topic
• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Getting the diagnosis >> Getting the diagnosis

Getting the diagnosis

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Paul - Interview 20 >> It took two or three weeks before Paul felt he had taken his diagnosis on board.

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 56 - 65 >> Helen - Interview 09 >> Helen recalled how all-consuming her condition became until she had settled into a new routine.

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 66 - 69 >> Balvinder - Interview 10 >> Balvinder was thirsty all the time and suspected he had diabetes because his father had the same condition (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 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> Looking back Nicky realises she had many classic diabetes symptoms but at the time she wondered if she was going through the menopause.

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 56 - 65 >> Stuart - Interview 12 >> Stuart was diagnosed when he was having treatment for persistent nosebleeds.

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 >> Mike - Interview 16 >> Although his father was diabetic Mike didn't understand much about it. Initially he felt very worried when he was given his diagnosis.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Malcolm - Interview 14 >> Malcolm found out he had diabetes soon after his optician spotted that he had problems which turned out to be retinopathy.

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 56 - 65 >> Chris - Interview 23 >> Chris only found out he had diabetes by chance and says he still doesn't feel he has any specific symptoms.

Diagnosed 5 years ago when having a routine blood test as part of treatment for depression. Chris controls his diabetes by diet alone and does not take any medication.

• 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 >> Stuart - Interview 12 >> Stuart felt anger, shock and disbelief at the diagnosis because he'd always been healthy and fit.

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 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 46 - 55 >> Pamela - Interview 08 >> Pamela recalls how casual she was about her diabetes until she discovered that it was affecting her eyesight.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Nicky - Interview 18 >> Nicky knew she was overweight when she got the diagnosis but she felt so fit and healthy she didn't believe what she was told.

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.