Type 2 Diabetes
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Managing your blood sugar is one of the most important things you can do to support your health, and achieve weight loss, if that is one of your goals.
When you eat high sugar foods or processed carbohydrates (also referred to as high Glycemic Index or high Glycemic Load foods), the body breaks down the carbohydrates in those foods (or beverages) and turns it into glucose. High levels of sugar in the blood (blood glucose) are dangerous, and so your body responds by triggering the pancreas to release insulin to remove this sugar safely out of the blood and store it in the cells.
Type 2 Diabetes is a serious condition where the insulin your pancreas makes can’t work properly, or your pancreas can’t make enough insulin. It is considered a metabolic disease that accounts for 90-95% of cases of diabetes, and is often associated with obesity.
Our team of Diabetes nutritionists and Diabetes dietitians can help to support you in managing your Type 2 Diabetes using dietary and lifestyle modifications, personalised to you and your needs.
Characteristics of Type 2 Diabetes:
- High Blood Glucose Levels – When testing blood glucose levels, it is important that both fasting blood glucose as well as post-meal blood glucose levels are assessed. This is because, some people with Type 2 Diabetes have normal fasting blood glucose levels, but once they consume a meal, their blood glucose does not return to normal levels quite as fast as expected.
- Insulin Resistance – In Type 2 Diabetes, cells become less responsive to the action of insulin, leading to raised blood glucose levels.
Type 2 Diabetes is a condition which develops if your body is no longer responding effectively to its own insulin, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. The good news is that it can be managed and even reversed.
Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include:
- Obesity
- Lack of exercise and sedentary way of life
- Eating a Western Diet
- High blood pressure
- Gestational diabetes
- Family history
- Aging
MEET SUE, CLINICAL DIRECTOR & HEAD OF NUTRITION
Sue shares the benefits of working with our expert nutrition team at the HealthMatters Group
Signs & Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes are similar to Type 1 Diabetes. However, in Type 2 Diabetes, symptoms may be milder initially, and become progressively worse over time. They include:
- Feeling thirsty
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Slow healing of cuts
Type 2 Diabetes is a debilitating condition. The chronic high blood glucose levels results in various complications including, but not limited to:
- Heart disease and stroke
- Nerve damage
- Diabetic retinopathy (retina or eye become damages)
- Kidney disease
- Foot ulcers
- Sexual dysfunction
- Miscarriage and still-birth
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OUR FEES
Our initial 30-minute consultation is free of charge, with therapy sessions starting from as little as £120, and nutrition sessions from £200.
Packages and multi-session bundles are available – we’ll guide you to the most suitable option when we speak.
Type 2 Diabetes Treatment & Diabetes Management
Our team of Diabetes specialists can explore many opportunities to manage diabetes using diet and lifestyle interventions.
Diabetes management can be an individual approach, as your health history, current health, diet and lifestyle all contribute to how your body is responding.
Here are some examples of areas that our Diabetes specialists can explore with you to improve your symptoms, and help you feel better.
- Weight Management & Diabetes: One of the most important contributing factors to Type 2 Diabetes is obesity. For every 1 Kg increase in weight, the risk of diabetes increases by 4.5-9%. Therefore, one key strategy for prevention and management of Type 2 Diabetes is obesity management. Exercise can help reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes through contributing to weight loss as part of a weight management plan, and helping with the management of blood glucose levels by increasing the sensitivity of cells to insulin.
- Weight Management & Diabetes: One of the most important contributing factors to Type 2 Diabetes is obesity. For every 1 Kg increase in weight, the risk of diabetes increases by 4.5-9%. Therefore, one key strategy for prevention and management of Type 2 Diabetes is obesity management. Exercise can help reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes through contributing to weight loss as part of a weight management plan, and helping with the management of blood glucose levels by increasing the sensitivity of cells to insulin.
- Your stress response: how much stress you are experiencing, and how your body responds to it can be an unexpected, but critical factor when managing Diabetes. Experiencing stress, whether that be physical or psychological, can increase your glucose and contribute to a reduction of insulin sensitivity. We may implement different strategies to minimise stress in your life, explore how nutritional interventions can support your stress response, and explain how you can improve vagal tone in the body.
- Targeted Supplement Protocols: Everyone is different, and sometimes it can be difficult for you to meet your nutritional needs through diet alone. This can be due to food preferences, absorption issues, nutrient status of the foods we eat or for other reasons. As part of your Diabetes treatment our team of Diabetes specialists can offer targeted supplements to support your health goals and to meet your nutritional requirements. Some of the supplements that our team may look to introduce include chromium and Inositol to support blood glucose balance. All recommendations will be checked against your medications to ensure they are safe for you to take.

FUNCTIONAL TESTING FOR DIABETES
To further support your Type 2 Diabetes treatment, regular testing can help to monitor and track your progress. This helps out practitioners to adapt and personalise your nutrition protocol depending on your results.
HOW CAN TESTING HELP MY DIABETES MANAGEMENT?
It is important to regularly monitor your blood glucose and HbA1c, particularly if taking medication while beginning nutritional and lifestyle interventions.
Tracking your blood sugar levels helps to see how effective your personalised Diabetes treatment is. It is also essential to review in tandem with your medication to ensure that your blood sugar levels don’t go too low, and ensure that medication is reviewed regularly with your GP.
What Can You Test For?
There are two main markers to test for Diabetes:
- HbA1c
- Fasting blood glucose
What Sample Do You Need?
For the most in-depth analysis of your health the best sample is a blood test. However, some markers such as HbA1c, can also be done at home using a finger-prick blood test.
FAQs
Are your services suitable for someone who is newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?
Absolutely! Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing Type 2 Diabetes for some time, nutritional interventions will be tailored to your current health status, with your health goals and any existing medical treatments taken into consideration.
How does nutrition support differ from the support I receive from my GP?
While your GP may prescribe medication, nutrition support focuses on how food and lifestyle support body systems impacted by type 2 diabetes. Your practitioner will work with you to address your specific nutritional needs, through dietary changes, stress management, sleep quality, and exercise, as part of a holistic approach to your long-term health and wellbeing.
How does nutrition support help manage type 2 diabetes?
Your practitioner will support you in making necessary dietary and lifestyle choices that target key areas of dysfunction including blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, and reducing the risk of possible type 2 diabetes complications such as heart health and blood pressure. Our nutrition practitioners will provide you with tools that are important for the sustained management of type 2 diabetes.
What functional testing do you offer that might be helpful in addition to GP tests?
Functional testing is sometimes offered as an additional tool. It can help your practitioner gather detailed information about how your body is responding to food (blood glucose levels, HbA1c), or whether there are other functional imbalances that may be contributing to dysfunction. This can support improved dietary tailoring, as well as inform supplementation more precisely, where relevant.
What if I wear a blood glucose monitor?
Wearing a blood glucose monitor can provide useful information for your practitioner to factor into tailored dietary and lifestyle recommendations. However, this is not a necessary part of nutrition support, and your practitioner will be able to assess your individual nutritional needs based on a deep-dive into your health history, in your initial session.
Can I still take medication while making dietary and lifestyle changes?
Yes, medication is sometimes necessary and you should carry on taking any medication prescribed by your GP. The goal for many clients is often to support or enhance medical treatment following a diagnosis. Think of this as an integrated care model, where our nutrition practitioners can work alongside your NHS GP or Consultant to support your management of type 2 diabetes.
How many consultations will I need, and over what time period?
After your first session, your practitioner will explain how they see support unfolding over time, and give you the first steps of guidance to start improving your symptoms. You can add flexible Time Bundles of either 1, 2,3 or 4-hours. The time bundles are used over 3–6 months, giving you ongoing review, adjustment, and accountability at your pace.
Will I need to take nutritional supplements?
Not necessarily! Sometimes it may be difficult to get all needed nutrients purely from diet, depending on food preferences, your lifestyle, issues with nutrient absorption, and current health status.
Any supplements recommended to you by your practitioner will be in addition to a dietary plan, as part of your personalised protocol.
How soon will I see improvements?
The time it takes to see improvement varies depending on how established your type 2 diabetes is, how consistent you are with recommended changes. Some people see early changes in energy or glucose readings within a few weeks, whilst meaningful improvements might take several months.
How much does this cost overall?
Your first session with one of our nutrition practitioners is more than just an assessment – it’s the beginning of a relationship built on trust, expertise, and care.
Initial 60-Minute Nutrition Consultation – £200
Whether you’re managing complex symptoms or just want to feel better in your body, this is the space where your journey starts with clarity and direction.
Healing your body and transforming your relationship with food takes time.
Time Bundles give you the flexibility to shape your care around your lifestyle, pace, and needs.
After your initial consultation, you can choose to continue with a 1, 2, 3, or 4-hour bundle of time, which can be used however works best for you.
- 1-Hour Bundle – £200
- 2-Hour Bundle – £380
- 3-Hour Bundle – £555
- 4-Hour Bundle – £720
NEXT STEPS
We know that getting the right support starts with being truly heard. That’s why we offer a free 30-minute enquiry call – time for you to ask questions, share a bit about your story, and explore how we can support you.
During this call, a member of our experienced client support team will:
- Listen to your health goals and concerns
- Explain how our services work and what to expect
- Match you with the most suitable practitioner for your needs
This is your time – to feel heard, to feel supported, and to start moving toward the health and balance you deserve.