Dr Michael Mosley has revealed that he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after a routine blood test, despite considering himself slim. He now warns that over half a million people in the UK could be unknowingly living with the condition.
The doctor, who discovered he had the disease after a dermatology referral, said common symptoms such as frequent urination at night are often dismissed as signs of ageing. He noted that his own waist measurement of 37 inches exceeded the 35-inch threshold considered a risk factor for men.
A study from the University of Exeter, based on UK Biobank data, tested over 2,000 volunteers and found that 200 had undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, many for at least two years. The researchers estimate this could mean 500,000 undiagnosed cases nationwide.
However, Mosley also highlighted promising research from Professor Roy Taylor of Newcastle University, showing that an 800-calorie rapid weight-loss diet can not only normalise blood sugar but also repair the pancreas. Scans revealed that losing belly fat allows the pancreas to regrow and resume insulin production, challenging the belief that type 2 diabetes causes permanent damage.
