Diabetes Health Information
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a common disease that occurs when the body cannot use glucose effectively. Around 75 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, also called non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes. The rest have type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes occurs when too much sugar is found in the blood, and gives rise to a number of serious health complications.
Facts about Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus is a large and growing health problem in the UK and throughout the world, with incidences of both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes growing fast. As well as a UK diabetic population that now exceeds 2.5 million, leading diabetes charity Diabetes UK estimates that there are as many as 750,000 undiagnosed diabetics. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity. Around 5 million people in the UK are thought to be obese.
What is the difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed at a younger age, often in childhood or early adulthood, and means that the body is unable to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system turns on pancreatic beta cells that product insulin. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin injections, but people with type 1 diabetes also need to manage their condition with diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetes was traditionally associated with a more mature onset, but more and more young adults and children are being diagnosed with this condition. In type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes is managed with diet, exercise, and medication or insulin in more serious cases.
The Big Three Diabetes Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of diabetes can be reduced to three major factors. In the case of type 1 diabetes, these symptoms can develop quickly. However, when it comes to type 2 diabetes, symptoms may be far subtler and develop slower.
What are the big three symptoms of diabetes?
The three major symptoms of diabetes are:
• Polyuria (The need to urinate frequently)
• Polydipsia (Increased thirst & fluid intake)
• Polyphagia (Increased appetite)
How is diabetes diagnosed?
Diabetes is diagnosed by measuring fasting glucose levels, and sometimes an oral glucose tolerance test for verification. People are usually diagnosed with diabetes when they experience the symptoms of diabetes. There are a variety of risk factors for diabetes that make the health condition more likely.
How is diabetes treated/managed?
Diabetes is treated in different ways, depending on whether the patient has type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. For those patients with type 1 diabetes, insulin injections are the only way to treat the health condition, although staying fit and healthy further decreases the risk of diabetes complications. For people with type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise play a key part in the management of the disease. By maintaining regular diet and exercise, blood glucose levels can be kept stable (with or without medication or insulin), and this decreases the risk of diabetes complications.
Diabetes.co.uk
Diabetes.co.uk is a diabetes community and health information portal. Built around a thriving support forum with over 12,000 members, Diabetes.co.uk is used by thousands of people with diabetes every day. Our aim is to serve the diabetes community by building the best resources, tools and features possible. Diabetes.co.uk is in full support of the UK diabetes charities, particularly Diabetes UK.
