Women and diabetes

• Overview
   
• Symptoms
   
• Sexual problems
• Self-help
   
• Further information

Self-help

Certain factors can increase your chance of developing Type 2 diabetes¹:

• A close member of your family has Type 2 diabetes
• You're overweight
• You've had a heart attack or a stroke or you have high blood pressure
• You have polycystic ovary syndrome and you are overweight.
• You have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia.
• If you've had gestational diabetes.
• You have severe mental health problems.
• The more risk factors that apply to you, the greater your risk of having diabetes.

You may be able to reduce your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes if you^1,2:

• maintain a healthy diet and weight
• keep your waist size under 31.5 inches (80cm) as a woman
• get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day
• stop smoking
• control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• only drink alcohol in moderation