IT IS AN INCURABLE CONDITION

At the moment diabetes cannot be cured but is managed by either diet and exercise or insulin injections. More than 2 million people in the UK have diabetes and it is thought that up to 750,000 have it with out knowing.

RESULTS IN A BUILD UP OF SUGARS IN THE BLOOD

For our bodies to use energy most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar. The pancreas, which is an organ near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin that helps glucose get into the cells of the body. When you have diabetes insulin is not produced causing a build up of glucose in the blood. The body cannot deal with these high glucose levels and insulin needs to be injected into the body to compensate.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is when the body cannot produce insulin. This usually appears before the age of 40. This is controlled with diet and insulin injections.

Type 2 diabetes is when not enough insulin is produced, or the insulin that is made does not work properly. This is controlled by diet and exercise and also through tablets and occasional insulin injections.

IT OFTEN GOES UNRECOGNISED

Type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly over weeks or even days. Type 2 symptoms can go unnoticed for years until another more serious complication arises like a foot ulceration. Common symptoms in both types of diabetes to look out for are:

• Feeling very thirsty
• Passing water frequently
• Weight loss
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Itchiness, especially around the genital area

Less common symptoms in type 1 diabetes are:

• Cramps
• Constipation
• Blurred vision
• Recurrent skin infections

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms make an appointment with your doctor and get them checked out.

CAN LEAD TO OTHER COMPLICATIONS

It is extremely important to manage your diabetes, because if you don’t look after yourself properly it could lead to a range of serious complaints. These include:

Eye disease – or ‘diabetic retinopathy’ can cause loss of sight. The small blood vessels in the back of the eye can become blocked which can cause blindness. Regular eye tests are essential to keep track of any problems.

Heart disease and stroke – If you do not control your glucose levels properly this can increase the chances of your arteries narrowing and hardening. This results in poor blood supply to the heart, which can cause angina. It also increases the chance that a blood vessel in the heart or brain will become blocked, which can cause a heart attack or a stroke.

Foot problems – damage to the nerves of the foot and poor circulation mean that it is easy to miss small cuts, which can develop into ulcers. Ulcers can take a long time to heal and if they become infected they can lead to gangrene, which may lead to amputation. It is very important that you keep your nails short and your feet clean and check them regularly. Always wear shoes that fit properly and see a chiropodist or podiatrist regularly so that any problems are found early.

Kidney disease – High levels of glucose in the blood can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys making them work less efficiently. This can lead to kidney failure and you may need either dialysis or a transplant.

IT CAN HAPPEN DURING PREGNANCY

This is known as gestational diabetes, and can develop in women who have never previously had the condition. It affects two to three percent of pregnant women and if it not properly controlled can lead to problems for both the mother and baby.

It happens when the mothers’ body cannot produce enough insulin. High blood sugar levels pass through the placenta to the baby and can cause problems.

Gestational diabetes usually develops during the second half of the pregnancy and goes away after the baby is born. The cause is unknown, but it is thought that the pregnancy hormones block the action of the insulin. It can usually be controlled through diet, but some mothers will have to have daily insulin injections.

Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes can grow larger in the womb, which may lead to difficult births. Sometimes a caesarean section is necessary. After the birth the baby may have low blood sugar. This is because the baby’s pancreas makes extra insulin in response to the mother’s high blood sugar levels. After the birth the baby’s blood sugar levels will be monitored regularly, and sometimes they may be given and early feed of a sugar solution through a drip to correct low blood sugar.

Once the baby is born the diabetes almost always disappears on its own. Doctors will check the mothers’ blood sugar levels a few times after the birth to make sure.

LIFESTYLE

• Eat a healthy diet - This is important to keep your weight under control and provide your body with essential nutrients. Try to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day and cut down on sugar and salt. Too much salt contributes to high blood pressure that can lead to strokes and heart disease. Maintaining a healthy diet will also give you more energy, get your blood circulating and help to distress you. Always eat at regular intervals and ensure that you have a balanced intake of all nutrients.
• Exercise – This will not only help to keep your weight under control, but will help to keep your blood sugar levels in check. Yoga is a good exercise to take up too as it will help to reduce stress and help you to relax.
• Stop smoking – Smoking should be completely avoided as it increases the risk of many health problems including damage to the blood vessels. Diabetics are five times more likely to have a heart attack or suffer a stroke if they smoke.
• Alcohol – Never drink alcohol on an empty stomach as this can cause hypoglycaemia (dangerously low sugar levels in the blood). Always drink in moderation, as excess alcohol contributes to high blood pressure.
• Check cholesterol levels – Regular blood tests to check the level of cholesterol is essential, as high levels damage the blood vessels, which aids heart and circulatory diseases. The ideal cholesterol level should be below 4.0.
• Regular Check ups – You should have regular eye and feet examinations, so that if there are any problems they can be found early and treatment can start as soon as possible. It is also important to monitor your blood pressure levels regularly to make sure that they are at a safe level.