Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.

There are different types of diabetes. The most common are Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Women can sometimes get diabetes in pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can be serious if not looked after, but it is very treatable. If blood glucose levels stay persistently elevated above normal limits that you increase the risk of damage to your eyes, kidneys, heart disease, and all the nerves in the body.

To find out if you have type 2 diabetes, you will need to talk to your GP about your symptoms.

GP will arrange a blood test to check your blood glucose (sugar) levels.  HbA1c test measures your blood sugar level average over the last two or three months. It usually takes a few days for the results to come back.

Diabetes care usually begins and continues with your GP, in a programme called chronic disease management. Your GP will review your diabetes twice a year. Your GP may recommend more specialised care, leading to onward referral to a diabetes specialist community centre or a hospital.

As part of your treatment, you will be invited to participate in a free diabetes support course.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. Diabetic retina screening is available free of charge once a year. It is for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes aged 12 years and older.

You will be encouraged to take an active role in your own care. The things that you do daily can make a huge difference to the treatment of Type 2 diabetes:

• Eating healthy foods – read the ‘Healthy Eating for People Living with Type 2 Diabetes’ booklet in English, Bengali, French, Hindi, Pashto, Polish, Romanian, Spanish and Urdu
• Being physically active
• Avoid sitting for long periods of time
• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Taking medicines if needed
• Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol also help

If you are taking diabetes medicine you can recover some of the costs through the Long-Term Illness Scheme if you do not have a Medical Card.

‘Your Guide to living with diabetes’

It covers blood glucose targets, general advice, appointment preparation, treatment goals, exercise, diet, foot care, sick day guidelines, driving with diabetes, insulin use, and preconception care.

Read the Guide in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Somalian, and Ukrainian.

Download a poster with QR codes to the Guide in all the above languages.

This document is intended for Dublin North West Integrated Care Centre patients. It has been locally developed and is maintained by our diabetes team staff. The document is scheduled for team review on 10/5/25. If you have any questions or need further clarification on anything mentioned in this leaflet, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at 01 77884390.