• Clip
• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Tina - Interview 17 >> Tina's employers are very supportive and Access to Work have provided her with a special camera which helps her to read.

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 46 - 55 >> Alex - Interview 07 >> Alex feels communication broke down when he had problems with his eyes and didn't connect it with 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 >> Pamela - Interview 08 >> A small blood clot found during a retinal screening test gave Pamela such a shock that her attitude to her diabetes changed.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 56 - 65 >> Chris - Interview 23 >> Chris refuses to take metformin and feels he's done everything right. He can't understand why he still gets told off.

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 >> 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 56 - 65 >> Mrs Singh - Interview 05 >> Mrs Singh had laser treatment for blood clots at the back of her eyes ten years ago. Her eyes have been fine ever since (audio in Hindi).

Mrs Singh was diagnosed when she was 49. She takes metformin.

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 36 - 45 >> Tina - Interview 17 >> Tina believes that poor control of her diabetes caused her retinopathy. She has recently lost sight in one eye.

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 >> Sylvia - Interview 38 >> Soon after being diagnosed Sylvia lost her eyesight for two weeks until her medication kicked in.

Diagnosed a year ago. Sylvia takes metformin, simvastatin and amlopidine.

• 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.

• Topic
• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Eyes, feet and kidneys >> Eyes, feet and kidneys

Eyes, feet and kidneys

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Pamela - Interview 08 >> A small blood clot found during a retinal screening test gave Pamela such a shock that her attitude to her diabetes changed.

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

• Chronic health issues >> Diabetes Type 2 >> Aged 46 - 55 >> Alex - Interview 07 >> Alex feels communication broke down when he had problems with his eyes and didn't connect it with diabetes.

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 >> Tina's employers are very supportive and Access to Work have provided her with a special camera which helps her to read.

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 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 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 >> Andy - Interview 04 >> Andy works in IT and now finds it hard to read from the computer screen which is stressful.

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 >> Stuart - Interview 12 >> Stuart goes to the GP for routine checkups and also sees a chiropodist and dietician.

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 35 and under >> Wasim - Interview 22 >> Wasim thinks it would be difficult to get the support he needs from his GP and prefers being treated by the hospital.

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