What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin and the pancreas cannot compensate, allowing glucose to build up in the blood. Over years, persistently raised glucose damages blood vessels and nerves, increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, sight loss and foot problems. It often develops silently, which is why many cases are found on routine blood tests.
Over 4.5 million people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes, around 90% of it type 2. Risk rises with age, weight, family history, and South Asian, Black African or Caribbean heritage, and it is increasingly seen in younger adults. Diagnosis is straightforward: an HbA1c blood test of 48 mmol/mol or above, usually repeated to confirm, with further tests to assess cholesterol, kidney function and other risks.
Common symptoms
- Increased thirst
- Passing urine more often, especially at night
- Tiredness and low energy
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts or frequent infections
- Genital itching or recurrent thrush
- Often no symptoms at all in early stages
How long will you wait?
Type 2 diabetes is mostly managed in general practice with reasonable access, but waits for NHS dietitian support, structured education courses and routine endocrinology referrals can each run to several months in some areas.
Privately, you can typically see a consultant endocrinologist or diabetologist within 3–7 days, with same-week blood testing.
NHS England median referral-to-treatment wait: 12.4 weeks, with 2.5 million people waiting over 18 weeks (May 2026). Individual waits vary by trust and urgency.
Treatment options
- Diet and lifestyle change. Weight loss, dietary change and activity, which can achieve remission in a substantial minority, especially soon after diagnosis.
- Metformin and oral medication. First-line tablets to lower blood glucose, with newer agents added according to individual risk.
- GLP-1 and SGLT2 therapies. Newer medicines that lower glucose while also benefiting weight, heart and kidney health.
- Insulin. Introduced when other treatments no longer keep glucose in range.
- Structured education and monitoring. Programmes such as DESMOND, plus regular checks of eyes, feet, kidneys and cardiovascular risk.
What does private treatment cost?
As a guide, a private endocrinology consultation costs around £200–£300, HbA1c and related blood panels around £100–£250, and dietitian sessions around £80–£120.
Does health insurance cover type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is the textbook example of a chronic condition in insurance terms: private medical insurance may cover initial investigations when it is first suspected, but ongoing management — monitoring, medication, routine reviews — is excluded under virtually all UK policies. Acute complications may be covered depending on the policy, but pre-existing diabetes will be excluded or loaded when you take out new cover. Some insurers offer wellness programmes that support diabetes management without insuring it.
Frequently asked questions
Can type 2 diabetes really be reversed?
Remission — normal blood glucose without diabetes medication — is genuinely achievable for some people, particularly within the first few years of diagnosis and usually through substantial weight loss of around 10–15 kg. The NHS now runs a low-calorie 'soup and shakes' remission programme in England. Remission is not guaranteed and needs maintaining, but it is a realistic goal worth discussing with your clinician.
What is HbA1c and what should mine be?
HbA1c reflects your average blood glucose over the previous two to three months. Diabetes is diagnosed at 48 mmol/mol or above; 42–47 indicates prediabetes. Treatment targets are individual — commonly around 48–53 mmol/mol — balancing the benefits of tight control against risks such as hypoglycaemia, so agree a personal target with your clinician rather than chasing a universal number.
Why would I see a specialist privately if my GP manages my diabetes?
Most type 2 diabetes is well managed in primary care, but a private consultant review can be valuable when control is deteriorating despite treatment, when you want a detailed discussion of newer medicines such as GLP-1 or SGLT2 therapies, or for a thorough complication and cardiovascular risk assessment. A one-off specialist opinion can then feed back into your ongoing NHS care.