World Diabetes Day
Marina Saif
What is diabetes?
As defined by The World Health Organisation, Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease which consists of consistently elevated blood sugar levels, as a result causing insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) or resulting from little or no production of insulin from the pancreas (type 1). Overtime, this can have detrimental effects to the health of the heart, eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and nerves.
Access to affordable treatment for individuals living with diabetes is crucial for their survival. According to the WHO, there are about 422 million suffers of diabetes worldwide; many of which are living in poverty or low and middle-income countries.
Increasing awareness of diabetes, its prevention and treatment, is vital. There are 1.5 million deaths a year attributed to diabetes, many of which could have been prevented by proper education and support.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an organ-specific autoimmune disorder, where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells. It is usually diagnosed in childhood, although in rare cases, it can develop as an adult.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin, this can result from prolonged negative lifestyle choices.
The symptoms of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are similar, below are some of the warning signs to look out for:
Excessive thirst
Frequent urination
Increased appetite
Weight loss
Bedwetting
Fruity/ sweet smelling breath
Irritability & mood swings
Blurry vision
Nausea, vomiting or somtach pain
Weekness or fatigue
Rapid or heavy breathing
If you, or your child, are experiencing these symptoms and you’re worried about diabetes, do not hesitate to contact your GP.
Preventing type 2 diabetes is, in most cases, possible. Studies show a link between obesity and diabetes, and many global health bodies have committed to halting the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025.
You can check your risk factors for type 2 diabetes on the NHS website:https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/know-your-risk-dtc/
What can you do to reduce your risk?
Here are a few simple ways you can help to prevent developing type 2 diabetes:
Increasing activity levels/ participate in regular exercise, daily.
Consuming less unhealthy sugars
Consuming less unhealthy fats
Not over consuming in carbohydrates - having a healthy amount of unrefined carbohydrates (i.e. wholemeal pasta, rice, & bread; a quarter of your plate)
Consuming healthy, balanced meals and ensuring they are cooked in a healthy way (half a plate of vegetables, a quarter protein, and quarter wholemeal carbs. Grill/ boil or roast instead of frying)
Additionally, if you are in the higher risk categories, or if you’re concerned, you can ask your GP for a blood test to check for blood glucose. In the UK, there are NHS pre-diabetes programs offered to those whose blood glucose tests indicate a risk of developing diabetes. These programs coach individuals on different lifestyle factors which could contribute to reducing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and they are very successful in achieving that with compliant patients.
You can find out more about type 1 & type 2 diabetes: symptoms and risk on the Diabetes UK website.
It is so important that all sufferers are receiving the correct treatment and that individuals who are at high risk have access to support and education on ways to reduce that risk. Prevention is possible most of the time for type 2 diabetes; and prevention is always better than a cure!
Resources
Ease into exercise with Couch 2 5K programme
Watch your intake with a free calorie counter
Get support for diabetes from Diabetes UK
Learn more about diabetes on the NHS website
