Diabetes (Blood Sugar)
According to Diabetes UK, there are currently more than two million people with diabetes in the UK,
with another 750,000 yet to be diagnosed.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high
because the body can’t use it properly. Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as
bread, rice, potatoes, chapattis, yams and plantain, from sugar and other sweet foods, and from the
liver which makes glucose. The reason the body cannot use the glucose properly is because it doesn’t
produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use the glucose in the blood and
when there isn’t enough insulin the levels of glucose become too high.
Diabetes Types: There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependant) – Type 1 develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin
and usually occurs before the age of 40. It is the least common of the two and accounts for between
5 – 15% of all people with diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependant) – Type 2 develops when the body can still make some
insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as
insulin resistance). In most cases this is linked with being overweight and usually appears in people
over the age of 40, though in South Asian and African-Caribbean people it often appears after the age
of 25. This being said, more and more children in the UK are being diagnosed with the condition,
some as young as seven. Type 2 diabetes accounts for between 85 – 95% of all people with diabetes.
Symptoms: The signs and symptoms of diabetes are:
Increased thirst, Going to the toilet all the time – especially at night, Extreme tiredness, Weight loss
Blurred vision, Genital itching or regular episodes of thrush, Slow healing of wounds.
In Type 1 diabetes the signs and symptoms are usually very obvious and develop very quickly. In Type
2 diabetics the symptoms are not so obvious. As the onset of Type 2 usually occurs after the age of
40, it can often be passed off as old age. In the case of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, the
symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes has been identified and treated.
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Causes and Risk Factors: There are a number of contributing factors as to why someone may suffer
from diabetes. The more factors that apply to you, the greater your risk of having diabetes.
Your Age – If you are over 40 or you’re over 25 and black, Asian or from an ethnic minority then you
are at greater risk.
The Family – Diabetes is hereditary so if a member of the family has diabetes you are at greater risk.
Ethnicity – African-Caribbean or South Asian people who live in the UK are 5 times more likely to
suffer than the white population.
Your Weight – The more overweight and inactive you are, the greater the risk. 80% of people
diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Your Waist – If you are female and have a waist larger than 31.5in (80cm), or you are a white or black
male and have a waist larger than 37in (94cm), or if you are male and Asian and have a waist larger
than 35in (90cm) then you have an increased risk.
Other Factors – If you have circulation problems, have had a heart attack or stroke, or if you have
high blood pressure then you are also at an increased risk of developing diabetes.
Treatment and your Health:
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are treated in different ways. Type 1 diabetes is treated by insulin
injections, controlling diet and through regular exercise. Type 1 diabetics tend to take two to four
insulin injections a day. Type 2 diabetes is treated with lifestyle changes such as a healthier diet,
weight loss and increased physical activity. Tablets and/or insulin may also be required to achieve
normal blood glucose levels.
Eat Well – Try to eat a balanced diet. If you are overweight, losing weight will help you to control your
diabetes easier. Losing weight will control blood glucose levels, blood fats (Cholesterol) and blood
pressure. It will also; reduce the risk of heart disease, improve mobility, reduce joint damage, reduce
tiredness, help relieve stress, and help improve self esteem.
Keep Active – Everyone should do a very minimum of 30 minutes activity 5 times a week. This does
not necessarily mean you have to do it all in one session, it can be broken down into bite sized chunks
throughout the day / week.
Don’t Smoke – Everyone who smokes risks damaging their health but for people with diabetes the
risk may be even greater. You already have an increased risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease,
heart attack, stroke and circulatory problems in the legs which combined with smoking makes the
chance of developing these even higher.
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Medication
Medications –
Tablets
Sulphonylureas
Biguanide
Prandial glucose regulator
Thiazolidinediones
Alpha glucosidase inhibitor
DPP – 4 inhibitors
Insulin (6 Main Types)
Rapid Acting Analogue
Long Acting Analogue
Short Acting Insulin
Medium and Long acting insulin
Mixed Insulin
Mixed Analogue
Incretin Mimetics
Byetta (Exentide
Monitoring Your Health:
Once diagnosed with diabetes it is crucially important to monitor your health so to try and prevent
some of the complications associated with diabetes.
The most important aspects of your health to monitor regularly would be your blood glucose levels,
blood pressure and blood fat levels (Cholesterol) as well as monitoring the condition of your feet and
getting your eyes screened for retinopathy (damage to the retina caused by diabetes).
Myths: You may hear a lot of different things about diabetes but it is important not to believe the
myths. Here are a few examples of some myths:
You can catch diabetes from someone else, Eating too much sugar causes diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is
mild diabetes, People with diabetes eventually go blind, it’s not safe to drive if you have diabetes,
People with diabetes can’t play sport, People with diabetes are more likely to get ill, People with
diabetes can’t eat sweets or chocolate, People with diabetes shouldn’t eat bananas or grapes.
People with diabetes should only eat diabetic food, Having diabetes means you can’t do certain jobs.
To find out more about diabetes and the medications above, go to the Diabetes UK website
(www.diabetes.org.uk) or contact your GP.
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