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WHAT IS DIABETES?

What is Diabetes?

This section of the site tells you about:

•diabetes, its symptoms and associated health problems
• what causes diabetes and who is most at risk
• how diabetes can be treated, and
• how you can help yourself to stay fit and healthy.

The good news about diabetes is that treatments are very effective and the more you know about your condition, the more you can do to help yourself stay healthy; lead the sort of life you want to live, and to avoid the health problems associated with diabetes in later life.

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, chapatis, yams and plantain, from sugar and other sweet foods, and from the liver which makes glucose.

Insulin is vital for life. It is a hormone produced by the pancreas, that helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel by the body. The main symptoms of untreated diabetes are increased thirst, going to the loo all the time – especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss, genital itching or regular episodes of thrush, and blurred vision.

There are two main types of diabetes. These are:

Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. It is treated by insulin injections and diet and regular exercise is recommended.

Type 2 diabetes 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. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in South Asian and African-Caribbean people often appears after the age of 25. However, recently, more children are being diagnosed with the condition, some as young as seven. 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.

The main aim of treatment of both types of diabetes is to achieve blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as near to normal as possible. This, together with a healthy lifestyle, will help to improve wellbeing and protect against long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and major arteries.

What are the Symptoms of Diabetes

The main symptoms of diabetes are:
increased thirst
going to the loo all the time – especially at night
extreme tiredness
weight loss
genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
blurred vision.

Type 2 diabetes develops slowly and the symptoms are usually less severe. Some people may not notice any symptoms at all and their diabetes is only picked up in a routine medical check up. Some people may put the symptoms down to 'getting older' or 'overwork'.

Type 1 diabetes develops much more quickly, usually over a few weeks, and symptoms are normally very obvious.

In both types of diabetes, the symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated. Early treatment will also reduce the chances of developing serious health problems.

What gets Diabetes and What causes it?

Diabetes is a common health condition. More than two million people in the UK are known to have diabetes — that’s about three in every 100 people. And there are an estimated one million people in the UK who have diabetes but don't know it. Over three-quarters of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.

Although the condition can occur at any age, it is rare in infants and becomes more common as people get older.

Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed. Nobody knows for sure why these cells have been damaged but the most likely cause is an abnormal reaction of the body to the cells. This may be triggered by a viral or other infection. This type of diabetes generally affects younger people. Both sexes are affected equally.

Type 2 diabetes
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. This type of diabetes 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.

However, recently, more children are being diagnosed with the condition, some as young as seven. 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.

All diabetes should be taken seriously and treated properly.

Other causes of diabetes
There are some other causes of diabetes, including certain diseases of the pancreas, but they are all very rare. Sometimes an accident or an illness may reveal diabetes if it is already there, but they do not cause it.

How Diabetes is Treated?

Although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be treated very successfully. Knowing why people with diabetes develop high blood glucose levels will help to you understand how some of the treatments work.

Blood glucose levels
When sugar and starchy foods have been digested, they turn into glucose. If somebody has diabetes, the glucose in their body is not turned into energy, either because there is not enough insulin in their body, or because the insulin that the body produces is not working properly. This causes the liver to make more glucose than usual but the body still cannot turn the glucose into energy. The body then breaks down its stores of fat and protein to try to release more glucose but still this glucose cannot be turned into energy. This is why people with untreated diabetes often feel tired and lose weight. The unused glucose passes into the urine, which is why people with untreated diabetes pass large amounts of urine and are extremely thirsty.

Type 1 diabetes is treated by injections of insulin and a healthy diet. Type 2 diabetes is treated by a healthy diet or by a combination of a healthy diet and tablets. Sometimes people with Type 2 diabetes also have insulin injections, although they are not totally 'dependent' on the insulin.

Treatments for Type 1 diabetes
People with Type 1 diabetes need injections of insulin for the rest of their lives and also need to eat a healthy diet that contains the right balance of foods. Insulin cannot be taken by mouth because it is destroyed by the digestive juices in the stomach. People with this type of diabetes commonly take either two or four injections of insulin each day.

If you or someone close to you needs insulin injections, your doctor or diabetes nurse will talk to you, show you how to do them and give you support and help. They will also show you how you can do a simple blood or urine test at home to measure your glucose levels. This will enable you to adjust your insulin and diet according to your daily routine. Your doctor or diabetes nurse will advise you what to do if your glucose level is too low.

If you have Type 1 diabetes, your insulin injections are vital to keep you alive and you must have them every day.

Treatments for Type 2 diabetes
People with Type 2 diabetes need to eat a healthy diet that contains the right balance of foods. If your doctor or diabetes nurse finds that this alone is not enough to keep your blood glucose levels normal, you may also need to take tablets.

There are several kinds of tablets for people with Type 2 diabetes. Some kinds help your pancreas to produce more insulin. Other kinds help your body to make better use of the insulin that your pancreas does produce. Another type of tablet slows down the speed at which the body absorbs glucose from the intestine.

Your doctor will decide which kinds of tablet are going to work best for you and may prescribe more than one kind. Your doctor or diabetes nurse will tell you all about the tablets, when to take them, and how to monitor your blood or urine glucose levels.

Reducing the risk of seious Health Problems.

People with diabetes have a higher chance of developing certain serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, circulation problems, nerve damage, and damage to the kidneys and eyes. The risk is particularly high for people with diabetes who are also very overweight, who smoke or who are not physically active.

You will greatly reduce your risk of developing any of these complications by controlling your blood glucose and blood pressure levels, and by eating healthily and doing regular physical activity.

Regular medical check-ups
In the last 10 to 20 years, the care for people with diabetes has improved dramatically. One of the most important developments has been improved methods of screening which will help your doctor to pick up any health problems at an early stage so they can be treated more successfully.

This is why having regular medical check-ups, at least annually, is so important.

If you have diabetes, you will have to make some changes to your way of life. However, by sticking to your treatment, monitoring your condition and following a generally healthy lifestyle, you should be able to continue your normal, day-to-day life and take part in the activities you have always enjoyed.

Healthy eating
You may need to change your eating habits.

If you smoke – quit now
Smoking is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes as it greatly increases the chance of developing a serious health problem. If you smoke, it is very important that you quit now.

Physical activity
It is a good idea to take up some form of regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, dancing or cycling. Consult your doctor or diabetes nurse before taking up any regular exercise, particularly if you are overweight.

Following your treatment plan
It is very important that you follow the treatment that your doctor or diabetes nurse has advised. You will feel much better if you keep your blood glucose levels as near normal as possible. Blood glucose levels are measured in millimols per litre of blood. This is shortened to mmol/l. You should aim for a level of 4 - 7 mmol/l before meals, rising to no higher than 10 mmol/l two hours after meals. Your doctor or diabetes nurse will advise you on what is best for you. They can also advise you on the many gadgets available that can help you to monitor your blood glucose levels.

Help yourself to say fit and healthy

Healthy eating
You may need to change your eating habits.

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