A doctor has urged people who “feel tired all the time” to seek medical advice. According to the expert, this is one of the most “common” signs of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes affects more than four million people in the UK, although it is thought many more could be living with the chronic disease that causes your blood sugar levels to become too high. There are two types of diabetes - type 1 and type 2.

Although it is not known exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, type 2, which accounts for around 90 per cent of cases, can be caused by lifestyle factors like being overweight or obese and not exercising enough. However, it can also be genetic.

As with any condition, the sooner you spot the symptoms of diabetes, the sooner you can seek the necessary medical help. And though there is no cure for diabetes, there are treatments available to help ease symptoms.

With this in mind, Doctor Amir Khan, who is best known for his appearances on ITV, shared five key signs of type 2 diabetes to look for. He said: “Here are five signs you may have type 2 diabetes.

“Now type 2 diabetes is a complex condition where your insulin doesn't work as well as it should do to keep your blood sugars in check. Now this can be due to a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors, but let's get into five possible symptoms that you may be suffering from that could be a clue that you've got type 2 diabetes.”

Feeling tired all the time

Dr Amir said this is the “most common” sign of diabetes. He said: “Number one, tired all the time.

“This is the most common symptom I see. Because your body's insulin isn't working as it should to release energy from your sugars, your body will look for other energy sources, such as your protein and fat stores.

“These are harder to break down and don't have as much energy in them, so you end up feeling tired.”

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Frequent infections

He continued: “If you're not using those sugars, something else will. And that something else are bugs.

“Whether it's urinary tract infections, thrush, or skin infections, these bugs love sugars to feed off and they thrive. Also, when your sugars are high, it has a negative effect on your immune system making it less effective at fighting off infections.”

Urinating lots

Dr Amir explained: “If your blood sugars are persistently high, your body will try to lower this by making you go to the loo to pee out those excess sugars.

“It's its own natural way of trying to get your sugars down, but as you pee sugar out, you pee lots of water too and that can end up making you feel thirsty and drinking lots too.”

Weight loss

“Now, lots of people associate type 2 diabetes with being overweight,” he said. “And although that is a risk factor when your sugars are high and your insulin isn't working to break them down and bring it down your body starts breaking down those fats and proteins as I talked about earlier, and you can end up with unexplained weight loss. “

Nerve pain

“We call this peripheral neuropathy and it usually causes tingling, burning, or a painful sensation in your toes and feet and this is because high sugars can damage those tiny little nerves in your toes and the blood vessels that give them their food and oxygen.

“And that makes it harder for them to carry proper nerve impulses back to your brain and spinal cord so you end up with those funny sensations.”

What to do if you have symptoms

Dr Amir added: “Now, if you have any of these symptoms, it's worth getting a blood test to check for type 2 diabetes. It could be something else, but that's one thing to check for.

“And remember, some of the best ways to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, full of plants. You've heard me say it before: move regularly, sleep well, and manage stress levels.”