More than 380,000 people in Denmark have diabetes, and the majority of them have type 2.
The country's Diabetes Association, Diabetesforeningen, warns that as many as 100,000 people in Denmark could be living with type 2 diabetes without knowing it, and they are urging people to learn the early signs and get a simple test before serious complications appear.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body does not produce enough insulin, or cannot use insulin properly, leading to too much sugar in the blood. Over time, high blood sugar increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, eyesight problems and nerve damage, especially in the feet.
A slow and sneaky illness
One of the biggest problems with type 2 diabetes is that symptoms can be mild or easy to confuse with everyday tiredness or stress. Many people can walk around with the disease for years before it is picked up in a routine blood test or after a complication such as a heart problem.
According to Danish healthcare platform Sundhed.dk, symptoms can often be vague.
Typical warning signs include:
- Being more thirsty than usual
- Needing to pee more often, especially at night
- Feeling very tired or drained
- Repeated infections, for example in the skin, around the genitals, or under your nails
Blurred vision or tingling in feet and hands, as well as slow-healing wounds, are also signs of diabetes.
Not everyone gets all of these symptoms, and some people have none at all, which is why regular check‑ups matter, especially if you are in a risk group.
Who is at risk in Denmark?
There is no single cause of type 2 diabetes, it is usually a mix of genes and lifestyle. Having a close relative, a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes clearly increases your risk.
Certain factors make it more likely that someone will develop type 2 diabetes:
- Being overweight, especially with fat around the stomach
- Moving too little in everyday life
- Having high blood pressure or high blood fats
- Smoking
- Poor sleep
- Previous gestational diabetes or conditions like PCOS
The risk also rises with age, because the body becomes less efficient at using insulin. But researchers stress that thinner and apparently “healthy” people can also develop type 2 diabetes, so it is not only a disease affecting older or very overweight people.
Why early diagnosis matters
Untreated type 2 diabetes slowly damages blood vessels and organs, often without causing pain at first. Over the years this can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss and foot ulcers that can be difficult to heal.
The good news is that early treatment that starts with changes to diet, more physical activity and often tablets can bring blood sugar closer to normal and sharply lower the risk of these long‑term problems. For many people, even modest weight loss and regular movement, such as brisk walking, can make the body more sensitive to insulin and delay or reduce the need for stronger medication.
When should you see a doctor
If you live in Denmark and recognise some of the symptoms, or know you are in a risk group, then it's a good idea to talk to your doctor and ask for a blood sugar test. This can often be done as a simple fasting blood test or a longer‑term measurement called HbA1c, which shows how high your blood sugar has been over the past few months. It is especially important to get tested if:
- You are over 40 and have gained weight over the years
- You have close family members with type 2 diabetes
- You have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- You have had gestational diabetes or PCOS
- You notice strong thirst, frequent urination or unusual tiredness for weeks at a time
What can you do to avoid developing diabetes?
No one can change their genes, but everyday habits still make a big difference. Eating smaller portions and more vegetables, cutting back on sugar‑sweetened drinks, moving more, and stopping smoking all help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or delay it for many years.
The message from doctors and health authorities is clear: type 2 diabetes is becoming more common, but it does not have to quietly steal years of good health. Paying attention to the early signs and asking your doctor for a simple blood sugar test if you are worried are the easiest ways to catch the disease in time and stay ahead of its long‑term complications.
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