An estimated 500,000 people in the UK have diabetes and don't know about it.
This is on top of almost 4 million people who have been diagnosed with the disease. The figures have been issued by the Diabetes and Wellness Foundation, which also says that nine in every 10 people with diabetes have type 2, which in many cases can be prevented.
Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease or stroke, according to the NHS. High blood sugar can cause diabetes, and if you have high blood sugar for a long period of time, it can also result in permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels.
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One warning sign of diabetes often occurs during the night. NHS guidance says noticing you need to go to the toilet a lot more - particularly if it's disturbing your sleep - could be a symptom.
Other warning signs include feeling very thirsty, fatigue, weight loss, itching around the genitals or frequent episodes of thrush, cuts that heal slowly and blurred vision.
The NHS website says many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general. If you're concerned you should speak to a GP as soon as possible.
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