role play a visit to the doctor

Lanternfish ESL

ESL Visiting a Doctor Roleplay

This is an oral communication activity in which students practise describing symptoms to a doctor.

A Visit to the Doctor Roleplay

Introduction.

The purpose of these materials is to get the students to practice visiting a doctor and communicating in English. This is a fairly simple role-play intended for false beginners (or perhaps even beginners). In short, students will go to the doctor, describe their ailment, get a prescription, and get some advice. Doctors will listen to ailments, ask a few questions and then prescribe medicine and give some advice.

Resources to Download

Doctor's activity sheet, patients activity sheet, ailment cards, treatment cards, activity description.

The class is divided into two groups: Doctors and Patients. Doctors are given the Doctor's Activity Sheet and the Treatment Cards . Patients are given the Patients Activity Sheet and three Ailment Cards .

For each ailment, the patients will visit two doctors and get some advice and a prescription. There is a fair amount of vocabulary for this exercise so it might be wise to have the students prep for class with some worksheets or exercises. If you are in an ESL setting it might also be a good idea to have the main terms translated. Also, the ailment and treatment cards are in MS Word format so you can edit them to whatever sickness you want.

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Going to the Doctor: ESL Lesson Plan [Free Download]

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Health is a universal concern and navigating healthcare can be one of the most important yet challenging experiences in a new language or country. Understanding and effectively communicating health needs in English is a vital skill for English learners, particularly for those living in English-speaking environments.

This lesson plan, “Going to the Doctor,” is designed specifically to assist English as a Second Language (ESL) students in developing the vocabulary and communication skills necessary to interact effectively with healthcare professionals. By exploring the different steps involved in a typical doctor’s visit and introducing key health-related vocabulary , this lesson aims to familiarize students with the healthcare process and provide them with the confidence to express health concerns and understand medical advice in English.

Through a series of well-structured activities including dialogue practice, role-play scenarios, and an interactive quiz, students will be engaged in the learning process, putting into practice what they’ve learned, and making the lesson’s content relevant and memorable.

By the end of this lesson, students will be well-equipped to handle a visit to the doctor in English, fostering their overall language competence and confidence.

Students will be able to understand and use medical and health vocabulary, converse effectively with healthcare professionals, and comprehend the purpose and process of a doctor’s appointment.

Approximately 60 minutes.

• Whiteboard & markers
• Handout with dialogues and vocabulary
• Role-play scenarios cards
• Images or flashcards related to the topic

Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Vocabulary introduction.

Introduce the necessary vocabulary to the students. Use images or flashcards to explain words related to health and doctor visits. Vocabulary might include:

• Appointment
• Prescription
• Examination

Check comprehension by asking students to match the words with images or descriptions.

Presentation (15 minutes)

Purpose of visiting a doctor.

Explain the reasons people visit doctors: preventative care, diagnosing and treating illness, managing chronic conditions, etc. Discuss the importance of regular check-ups and vaccinations.

The Process of a Doctor’s Visit

Explain the steps typically involved in a doctor’s visit:

• Making an appointment
• Checking in at the reception
• Describing symptoms to the nurse or doctor
• Examination by the doctor
• Receiving a diagnosis or treatment plan
• Collecting a prescription, if necessary

Practice (20 minutes)

Dialogue practice.

Provide a handout with dialogues illustrating a typical interaction between a patient and a doctor. Read through the dialogues as a class, clarifying any difficult phrases or expressions.

Dialogue might include useful phrases like:

• “I would like to make an appointment.”
• “What seems to be the problem?”
• “I’ve been feeling sick for a few days.”
• “It hurts when I…”
• “You need to take this medication twice a day.”

Split the class into pairs and have them practice the dialogue, swapping roles halfway through.

Role-play Activity

Prepare role-play scenario cards describing different health issues (e.g., a cold, a sprained ankle, a stomachache). Split students into pairs and distribute the role-play cards. One student in each pair will play the patient and the other the doctor. The ‘patient’ will explain their ‘symptoms’, and the ‘doctor’ will ‘diagnose’ the issue and provide advice or ‘prescription’. Encourage students to use the vocabulary and phrases they’ve learned.

Production (10 minutes)

Interactive quiz.

Prepare a quiz based on the lesson’s content to reinforce students’ understanding of the vocabulary and the process of going to the doctor. Questions might include:

• “What should you say when making an appointment?”
• “What is a prescription?”
• “What might a doctor say when examining a patient?”

Students can work in groups to answer the questions.

Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

End the lesson by encouraging students to share their experiences of going to the doctor in their home country and compare them with what they’ve learned about the process in English-speaking countries. Ask them to reflect on the new vocabulary they’ve learned, and how it might help them in real-life situations.

In this lesson, students have the opportunity to build their medical vocabulary, understand the purpose and process of visiting a doctor, and practice their conversational skills in a relevant context. By integrating interactive and engaging activities, this lesson supports learners in becoming more comfortable and confident when going to the doctor in English-speaking environments.

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A Visit to the Doctor's: AN ESL Role-play by Lanternfish

Course, subject.

English Language Arts, English as a Second Language

Grade Levels

Intermediate, Commencement, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

Description

The purpose of these materials is to get the students to practice visiting a doctor and communicating in English. This is a fairly simple role-play intended for false beginners (or perhaps even beginners). In short, students will go to the doctor, describe their ailment, get a prescription, and get some advice. Doctors will listen to ailments, ask a few questions and then prescribe medicine and give some advice.

Web-Based Resource

Access the lesson plan and worksheets at: http://bogglesworldesl.com/doctor_roleplay.htm

Content Provider

Lanternfish : Activities, worksheets, and flashcards for the ESL and TEFL Teacher.

Related Academic Standards

New york state.

ESL.I.5-8.4.1.3  Students request and provide information and assistance, orally or in writing, for personal, social, and academic purposes.

ESL.I.5-8.4.1.8  Students negotiate and manage interactions to accomplish social and classroom tasks.

ESL.I.5-8.4.1.9.MI  Expressions and routines such as asking permission, making and responding to requests, greeting, making promises, thanking, and apologizing. Such situations include chatting with friends, participating in group discussions, greeting a principal or other adult, and making purchases.

ESL.C.9-12.4.1.3  Students request and provide information and assistance, orally or in writing, for personal, social, and academic purposes.

ESL.C.9-12.4.1.8  Students negotiate and manage interactions to accomplish social and classroom tasks.

ESL.C.9-12.4.1.9.MI  Expressions and routines such as asking permission, making and responding to requests, greeting, making promises, thanking, and apologizing. Such situations include chatting with friends, participating in group discussions, greeting a principal or other adult, making purchases, interviewing for a job, and applying to college.

ESL.C.9-12.4.1.12.MI  Strategies such as asking questions, starting over, rephrasing, and exploring pronunciations or wording.

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A visit to the doctor's: an esl role-play for esl by lanternfish, web-based content, a visit to the doctor's: an esl role-play for esl by lanternfish, grade levels, course, subject.

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Description

The purpose of these materials is to get the students to practice visiting a doctor and communicating in English. This is a fairly simple role-play intended for false beginners (or perhaps even beginners). In short, students will go to the doctor, describe their ailment, get a prescription, and get some advice. Doctors will listen to ailments, ask a few questions and then prescribe medicine and give some advice.

Web-based Resource

Access the lesson plan and worksheets at: https://bogglesworldesl.com/doctor_roleplay.htm

Content Provider

Lanternfish : Activities, worksheets, and flashcards for the ESL and TEFL Teacher.

Date Published

Insert template.

Doctor’s Office Role Play Part 1

Welcome to our Daily English Listening Practice with this week’s series:

Role Play: At the Doctor’s

Making an appointment.

Get ready for some role plays!

Daily life in English is important! Doctor’s Office Conversation usually starts on the phone with an appointment and then continues later in person at the Doctor’s Office.

These role plays and English dialogues are in pieces, and you can find the full role play at the end of this week, after you feel comfortable with each piece. You’ll find some extra culture notes at the bottom of some of the listening practice clips, enjoy!

Grab the American and British Dialogue Transcripts here: English Role Play at the Doctor’s Office Transcripts

American Doctor’s Office: at the top British Doctor’s Office: scroll down

American Doctor’s Office

Usa – on the phone making an appointment – new patient.

[wonderplugin_audio id=”102″] This American English clip is between a new patient and an office receptionist.

—Transcript—

Receptionist: Hello, Dr’s Office, how can I help you?

Patient: Hiya, I’d like to make an appointment.

Receptionist: Yes, sir, what’s the patient’s name?

Patient: Uh, my name is Bruce Lyons.

Receptionist: Okay, Bruce Lyons, could you spell that for me please?

Patient: Yeah, Lyons is L-Y-O-N-S. And first name is Bruce.

Receptionist: And, what’s your date of birth?

Patient: It’s August 14th, 1988.

Receptionist: Okay, and what are you symptoms?

Patient: Uh, it’s just for a check-up really.

Culture Notes:  This audio clip is for a regular doctor who is probably covered under your insurance plan. They will usually have their own practice with their name listed on the building, and you won’t normally visit them in a hospital. A lot of doctors are in residential areas or in small shopping strips, this isn’t unusual. Hospitals are for surgeries or something very serious, like going to the emergency room. Don’t go to the emergency room if it is not very serious. Most doctors are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. however, some doctors aren’t available some days for whatever reason. If you’re a new patient, you will need to have your insurance card ready to give the receptionist some information.

USA – On the Phone Making an Appointment for Someone Else

[wonderplugin_audio id=”103″] This American English clip is between a new patient and an office receptionist.

Receptionist: Good morning, Dr.’s Office, how can I help you?

Patient: Hi there, I’d like to schedule an appointment for my son.

Receptionist: Yes sir, what is the patient’s name?

Patient: His name is Jim Lyons.

Receptionist: Oh, could you spell that please?

Patient: Sure, Jim Lyons, Lyons is L-Y-O-N-S

Receptionist: And, have you ever come into the office before?

Patient: No, we’ll be new patients in this office.

Receptionist: Okay, just give me your son’s date of birth, please.

Patient: It’s January 12th, 2014.

Receptionist: Okay, 01-12-14?

Patient: Yep, that’s right.

Receptionist: Okay great, thank you.

Culture Notes:

If you aren’t a new patient, simply say “We’ve been there before, our last name is Smith, S-M-I-T-H.” You can easily say your date of birth in MM-DD-YY, like 11-20-88 eleven twenty eighty-eight, or simply November 20th, 1988. Don’t forget: 1st 2nd 3rd… 10th… 21st… 31st For your child: 2000-2009, you’ll probably say: “(born in) two-thousand; two thousand n’ nine” 2010-current “two-thousand ten & twenty-ten” are both acceptable.

USA – On the Phone Insurance

[wonderplugin_audio id=”104″] This American English clip is between a new patient and an office receptionist.

Receptionist: Okay, so you said that this appointment is going to be for your son, Jim. Have you guys ever been in before to see the doctor?

Patient: No, we haven’t been to that practice, yet.

Receptionist: Okay, let me just get a little bit of information from you. Do you have your insurance card ready?

Patient: Uh, yep, hang on a second, okay, I’ve got it here.

Receptionist: Okay, can I just get the first and last name of the policyholder?

Patient: Okay, that’ll be my name, so Bruce Lyons.

Receptionist: Okay, great. And, what kind of insurance do you have? Which company?

Patient: Uh, we have Aetna insurance.

Receptionist: Alright and the expiration date?

Patient: Is that the same as the expiry date?

Receptionist: Yes, it is.

Patient: Okay, it expires January 2019.

Receptionist: Okay and finally, your customer or your patient number.

Patient: It should be 0087645.

Receptionist: Okay great, that’s all the information I need.

Some health clinics, which are private businesses with multiple doctors, don’t require appointments or insurance. They accept walk-ins (Walk-Ins Welcome, people without an appointment) and you can pay “out-of-pocket” which means you pay the expenses yourself without using any insurance. They can be expensive, but they might be a better option for quick and often 24-hour care. “Health clinics near me” or “24-hour health clinics near me” are great google searches for finding one near your location. You can find health clinics in grocery stores, pharmacies, and because it is such a popular business, you can find them just about anywhere.

USA – Extra Notes

[wonderplugin_audio id=”105″]

British Doctor’s Office

Uk – on the phone making an appointment – new patient.

[wonderplugin_audio id=”106″] This American English clip is between a new patient and an office receptionist.

(On the phone)

Receptionist: Good morning, Dr.’s office.

Patient: Hi, would I be able to schedule an appointment with you?

Receptionist: Yes, of course, could I take your name please?

Patient: Sure, my name is Ezra Fitz.

Receptionist: And, how is that spelled?

Patient: Fitz, F-I-T-Z, Ezra E-Z-R-A

Receptionist: Okay, thank you, and date of birth please.

Patient: Okay, that’ll be the 20th of January, 1988.

Receptionist: Okay and can I have your address please?

Patient: Sure, it’s 19 Abbotts Road, Henfield and the post code is HN47JP

Receptionist: Is that 7-J-P?

Patient: Yes, JAY-PE

Receptionist: Okay, and can I have your national insurance number?

Patient: That’s MF-12-35-45-61.

Receptionist: Thank you. Are you registered at this practice?

Patient: Yes, I am currently registered with you.

Culture Notes: The NHS is the National Health Service, and British citizens’ taxes go towards hospitals and make hospitals free. Every citizen has a National Insurance Number (NI number) so they can have access to this free health care. Private insurance is available, but most people use the NHS. In the recording, you might hear that Americans say “August 19th”, but in England, people normally say “19th of August”.

UK – On the Phone Making an Appointment for Someone Else

[wonderplugin_audio id=”107″] This American English clip is between a new patient and an office receptionist.

Receptionist: Good afternoon, Dr.’s office.

Patient: Hi there, could I make an appointment for my son?

Receptionist: Yes, absolutely, could I take your son’s name, please.

Patient: His name is Bruce Fitz.

Receptionist: And how are you spelling Fitz?

Patient: F-I-T-Z.

Receptionist: Okay, and what’s his date of birth?

Patient: His date of birth the 19th of August, 2014.

Receptionist: And is he registered at this practice?

Patient: Yes, he should be.

Receptionist: Okay, and can I take the national insurance number of a parent or guardian.

Patient: Yes, that will probably be under his father and that’s TZ-14-27-93-85.

Receptionist: Okay, and the father’s name?

Patient: He’ll be under John Fitz.

Culture Notes: A ‘GP’ is a General Practitioners. It’s a small clinic with just a few doctors, and they deal with less urgent problems like fevers, pains, exams and checkups. We call the building ‘the GP’ (i.e. “I went to the GP for a check-up”), and you need to register at your local GP to get access to care. You can only be registered at one GP at a time. If you want to register, the staff will give you a form to fill out.

UK – Extra Notes

[wonderplugin_audio id=”108″]

If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask in the comments below!

Kat and Mark

You May Also Like

English Doctor’s Office Role Play with Listening for Adult Students – Full Transcript and Listening Practice

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Visiting the doctor.

Level: Elementary (A1-A2)

Type of English: General English

Tags: health and wellbeing health and illness visiting the doctor/dentist/vet Situation based

Publication date: 21/01/2015

In this dialogue-aided lesson plan, students learn how to describe a number of typical medical ailments, symptoms and treatments. The lesson includes two simple doctor-patient dialogues. A basic knowledge of the present simple, present continuous and past simple tenses is assumed.

Visiting-the-doctor-Ex3

It is greate lesson plan! Thank you very much!

Very nice lesson. I recommend.

Very easy and nice lesson, thank you

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In this dialogue-aided lesson plan, students learn how to describe a number of typical medical issues, symptoms, and treatments. The lesson includes two simple doctor-patient dialogues. A basic knowledge of the simple present, present continuous, and simple past tenses are assumed.

Dialog-1-Visiting-the-doctor.mp3

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Role-play - Visiting the Doctor

Subject: Japanese

Age range: 11 - 16

Resource type: Other

Last updated

18 October 2013

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Susan Twist's Doctor Who Season 14 Role Explained: Who She Was Really Playing

Why doctor who season 14 replaced shirley as unit's scientific advisor, if david tennant & catherine tate don't return in doctor who season 14's finale, we've got a problem.

This article contains spoilers for Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 7, "The Legend of Ruby Sunday."

• Sutekh returns ahead of Doctor Who season 14 finale, causing devastation and raising the stakes across generations.
• The Doctor, Ruby, and UNIT face a dire situation as Sutekh's deadly vengeance threatens the universe.
• Sutekh has taken control of the TARDIS in previews for the season 14 finale.

A classic series foe, Sutekh, returns and reigns supreme in the trailer for Doctor Who season 14's epic finale, "Empire of Death." In his debut season, Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday have witnessed a woman named Susan Twist appearing in their adventures, who is later revealed to be tech entrepreneur Susan Triad. However, in the Doctor Who episode "The Legend of Ruby Sunday," Susan is revealed to be part of the "One Who Waits'" plans, as Tom Baker-era villain Sutekh (Gabriel Woolfe) returns to render the universe to dust.

With one of the Doctor's deadliest classic foes returning to the universe, a short trailer for season 14's finale has been released on the official Doctor Who YouTube channel.

In the first trailer for "Empire of Death," Sutekh has won , as a possessed Harriet (Genesis Lynea) pilots and warps the TARDIS, and deadly sandstorms sweep the Earth. Left wracked with guilt for the part he played, it is up to the Doctor, Ruby, and Mel (Bonnie Langford) to end Sutekh's tyranny through Ruby's childhood memories and journeys across devastated worlds.

How Deadly Is Sutekh?

The returning villain featured in the fourth doctor's adventures..

With the Doctor left feeling defeated and Ruby facing her past head-on, Gatwa's first season finale is sure to leave viewers' hearts broken alongside the Time Lord's.

Despite numerous red herrings from the in-universe Susan Foreman trap, Carla's (Michelle Greenidge) allusions to season 2 villain The Beast, and the return of tracks used in season 3's reveal of The Master (Derek Jacobi), Sutekh's Doctor Who return acts as a perfect bridge across multiple generations. This can be seen from the series incorporating the Osiran God of Death, classic villain The Mara, and spin-off antagonist The Trickster (Paul Marc Davis) into the newly formed villainous pantheon, with Woolfe reprising his role. Furthermore, Sutekh's emergence has set in motion some of the season's highest stakes.

Susan Twist's Doctor Who character permeates Ncuti Gatwa's first season as the Fifteenth Doctor, but her true identity is only revealed very late.

In his debut story during the Fourth Doctor ' s Doctor Who era, "The Pyramids of Mars," Earth would have been devastated by Sutekh's wrath. Despite not being the target of his war rocket aimed at Mars, the Fourth Doctor and Sarah-Jane Smith (Elizabeth Sladen) witnessed a destroyed Earth on a brief visit to the 1980s following his release. With a storm brewing over London and sand sweeping over terrified crowds in the city in the trailer, it is clear few will survive Osiran's deadly vengeance on the Doctor.

With the TARDIS claimed by Sutekh in UNIT HQ, Susan and Harriet fully under his thrall, and the Doctor, Ruby, and UNIT staff divided, the universe is in a dire state going into Doctor Who season 14's finale. Though many longtime viewers may recognize the foe, season 14's mysteries and his long-awaited return quickly let newcomers know just how deadly of a threat the classic villain is. With the Doctor left feeling defeated and Ruby facing her past head-on, Gatwa's first season finale is sure to leave viewers' hearts broken alongside the Time Lord's.

Doctor Who releases new episodes every Friday simultaneously on Disney+ for international audiences and BBC iPlayer for UK viewers.

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Originally premiered in 1963, Doctor Who is a sci-fi series that follows a powerful being known as a Time Lord, referred to as the Doctor. Using an interdimensional time-traveling ship known as the TARDIS, the Doctor travels time and space with various companions as they solve multiple problems and help avert catastrophe as much as they almost cause it. Though the Doctor is always the same character, they experience regenerations, allowing them to be recast every few seasons as a unique immortal being with new personality traits.

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• Celiac disease

Your small intestine is lined with tiny hairlike projections called villi, which absorb sugars, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. Gluten exposure in people with celiac disease damages the villi, making it hard for the body to absorb nutrients necessary for health and growth.

Celiac disease is an illness caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye.

If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response to the gluten protein in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine's lining and prevents it from absorbing nutrients, a condition called malabsorption.

The intestinal damage often causes symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating or anemia. It also can lead to serious complications if it is not managed or treated. In children, malabsorption can affect growth and development in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms.

There's no definite cure for celiac disease. But for most people, following a strict gluten-free diet can help manage symptoms and help the intestines heal.

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The symptoms of celiac disease can vary greatly. They also may be different in children and adults. Digestive symptoms for adults include:

• Weight loss.
• Bloating and gas.
• Abdominal pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Constipation.

However, more than half the adults with celiac disease have symptoms that are not related to the digestive system, including:

• Anemia, usually from iron deficiency due to decreased iron absorption.
• Loss of bone density, called osteoporosis, or softening of bones, called osteomalacia.
• Itchy, blistery skin rash, called dermatitis herpetiformis.
• Mouth ulcers.
• Headaches and fatigue.
• Nervous system injury, including numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, possible problems with balance, and cognitive impairment.
• Joint pain.
• Reduced functioning of the spleen, known as hyposplenism.
• Elevated liver enzymes.

Children with celiac disease are more likely than adults to have digestive problems, including:

• Chronic diarrhea.
• Swollen belly.
• Pale, foul-smelling stools.

The inability to absorb nutrients might result in:

• Failure to thrive for infants.
• Damage to tooth enamel.
• Irritability.
• Short stature.
• Delayed puberty.
• Neurological symptoms, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, headaches, lack of muscle coordination and seizures.

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Gluten intolerance can cause this blistery skin disease. The rash usually occurs on the elbows, knees, torso, scalp or buttocks. This condition is often associated with changes to the lining of the small intestine identical to those of celiac disease, but the skin condition might not cause digestive symptoms.

Health care professionals treat dermatitis herpetiformis with a gluten-free diet or medicine, or both, to control the rash.

When to see a doctor

Consult your health care team if you have diarrhea or digestive discomfort that lasts for more than two weeks. Consult your child's health care team if your child:

• Is irritable.
• Is failing to grow.
• Has a potbelly.
• Has foul-smelling, bulky stools.

Be sure to consult your health care team before trying a gluten-free diet. If you stop or even reduce the amount of gluten you eat before you're tested for celiac disease, you can change the test results.

Celiac disease tends to run in families. If someone in your family has the condition, ask a member of your health care team if you should be tested. Also ask about testing if you or someone in your family has a risk factor for celiac disease, such as type 1 diabetes.

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Your genes, combined with eating foods with gluten and other factors, can contribute to celiac disease. However, the precise cause isn't known. Infant-feeding practices, gastrointestinal infections and gut bacteria may contribute, but these causes have not been proved. Sometimes celiac disease becomes active after surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection or severe emotional stress.

When the body's immune system overreacts to gluten in food, the reaction damages the tiny, hairlike projections, called villi, that line the small intestine. Villi absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat. If your villi are damaged, you can't get enough nutrients, no matter how much you eat.

Risk factors

Celiac disease tends to be more common in people who have:

• A family member with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis.
• Type 1 diabetes.
• Down syndrome, William syndrome or Turner syndrome.
• Autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Microscopic colitis.
• Addison's disease.

Complications

Celiac disease that is not treated can lead to:

• Malnutrition. This occurs if your small intestine can't absorb enough nutrients. Malnutrition can lead to anemia and weight loss. In children, malnutrition can cause slow growth and short stature.
• Bone weakening. In children, malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D can lead to a softening of the bone, called osteomalacia or rickets. In adults, it can lead to a loss of bone density, called osteopenia or osteoporosis.
• Infertility and miscarriage. Malabsorption of calcium and vitamin D can contribute to reproductive issues.
• Lactose intolerance. Damage to your small intestine might cause you abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating or drinking dairy products that contain lactose. Once your intestine has healed, you might be able to tolerate dairy products again.
• Cancer. People with celiac disease who don't maintain a gluten-free diet have a greater risk of developing several forms of cancer, including intestinal lymphoma and small bowel cancer.
• Nervous system conditions. Some people with celiac disease can develop conditions such as seizures or a disease of the nerves to the hands and feet, called peripheral neuropathy.

Nonresponsive celiac disease

Some people with celiac disease don't respond to what they consider to be a gluten-free diet. Nonresponsive celiac disease is often due to contamination of the diet with gluten. Working with a dietitian can help you learn how to avoid all gluten.

People with nonresponsive celiac disease might have:

• Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
• Poor pancreas function, known as pancreatic insufficiency.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Difficulty digesting sugar found in dairy products (lactose), table sugar (sucrose), or a type of sugar found in honey and fruits (fructose).
• Truly refractory celiac disease that is not responding to a gluten-free diet.

Refractory celiac disease

In rare instances, the intestinal injury of celiac disease doesn't respond to a strict gluten-free diet. This is known as refractory celiac disease. If you still have symptoms after following a gluten-free diet for 6 months to 1 year, you should talk to your health care team to see if you need further testing to look for explanations for your symptoms.

Celiac disease care at Mayo Clinic

• Rubio-Tapia A, et al. American College of Gastroenterology guidelines update: Diagnosis and management of celiac disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2023; doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000002075.
• Catassi C, et al. Coeliac disease. The Lancet. 2022; doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00794-2.
• Singh P, et al. Who to screen and how to screen for celiac disease. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2022; doi:10.3748/wjg.v28.i32.4493.
• What is celiac disease? Celiac Disease Foundation. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/what-is-celiac-disease/. Accessed April 26, 2023.
• Feldman M, et al., eds. Celiac disease. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 26, 2023.
• Celiac disease. National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/celiac-disease. Accessed April 26, 2023.
• Ami TR. AllScripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. March 24, 2023.
• Khanna S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. May 12, 2023.

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Type 2 Diabetes

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What is type 2 diabetes?

Who is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, what are the symptoms of diabetes, what causes type 2 diabetes, how do health care professionals diagnose type 2 diabetes, how can i manage my type 2 diabetes, what medicines do i need to treat my type 2 diabetes, what health problems can people with diabetes develop, how can i lower my chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes mainly from the food you eat. Insulin , a hormone made by the pancreas , helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. Too much glucose then stays in your blood, and not enough reaches your cells.

The good news is that you can take steps to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.

You can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. However, type 2 diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people. You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are age 45 or older, have a family history of diabetes, or are overweight or have obesity . Diabetes is more common in people who are African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.

Physical inactivity and certain health problems such as high blood pressure affect your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. You are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you have prediabetes or had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant. Learn more about risk factors for type 2 diabetes .

Symptoms of diabetes include

• increased thirst and urination
• increased hunger
• feeling tired
• blurred vision
• numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
• sores that do not heal
• unexplained weight loss

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly—over the course of several years—and can be so mild that you might not even notice them. Many people have no symptoms. Some people do not find out they have the disease until they have diabetes-related health problems, such as blurred vision or heart disease .

Type 2 diabetes is caused by several factors, including

• overweight and obesity
• not being physically active
• insulin resistance

Learn more about the causes of type 2 diabetes .

Your health care professional can diagnose type 2 diabetes based on blood tests. Learn more about blood tests for diabetes and what the results mean.

Managing your blood glucose, blood pressure , and cholesterol , and quitting smoking if you smoke, are important ways to manage your type 2 diabetes . Lifestyle changes that include planning healthy meals, limiting calories if you are overweight, and being physically active are also part of managing your diabetes. So is taking any prescribed medicines. Work with your health care team to create a diabetes care plan that works for you.

Along with following your diabetes care plan, you may need diabetes medicines, which may include pills or medicines you inject under your skin, such as insulin. Over time, you may need more than one diabetes medicine to manage your blood glucose. Even if you don’t take insulin, you may need it at special times, such as during pregnancy or if you are in the hospital. You also may need medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other conditions.

Learn more about medicines, insulin, and other diabetes treatments .

Following a good diabetes care plan can help protect against many diabetes-related health problems. However, if not managed, diabetes can lead to problems such as

• heart disease and stroke
• nerve damage
• kidney disease
• foot problems
• eye disease
• gum disease and other dental problems
• sexual and bladder problems

Many people with type 2 diabetes also have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) . Losing weight if you are overweight or have obesity can improve NAFLD. Diabetes is also linked to other health problems such as sleep apnea , depression, some types of cancer, and dementia .

You can take steps to lower your chances of developing these diabetes-related health problems .

Research such as the Diabetes Prevention Program , sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, has shown that you can take steps to reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes if you have risk factors for the disease. Here are some things you can do to lower your risk:

• Lose weight if you are overweight, and keep it off. You may be able to prevent or delay diabetes by losing 5 to 7 percent of your current weight. 1 For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds, your goal would be to lose about 10 to 14 pounds.  
• Move more. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity, such as walking, at least 5 days a week. If you have not been active, talk with your health care professional about which activities are best. Start slowly and build up to your goal.
• Eat healthy foods. Eat smaller portions to reduce the amount of calories you eat each day and help you lose weight. Choosing foods with less fat is another way to reduce calories. Drink water instead of sweetened beverages.

Ask your health care team what other changes you can make to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Most often, your best chance for preventing type 2 diabetes is to make lifestyle changes that work for you long term. Get started with Your Game Plan to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes .

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

The NIDDK would like to thank: Rita Basu, M.D., Mayo Clinic