Diabetes – The Facts
- Jay Homewood
- Oct 21, 2024
- 4 min read
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body is unable to produce insulin, resulting in your blood glucose levels being too high. Your body attacks the cells in your pancreas that produce the insulin. For people with type 1 diabetes, their body breaks down the carbohydrate from food and drink, turns it into glucose and it enters the bloodstream. Without insulin in the body, the glucose is not able to get into the body’s cells, so it builds up in the bloodstream. This is what causes the high blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or exercise.
Type 2 diabetes is caused when the insulin produced in the pancreas doesn’t work properly, or when the pancreas cannot produce as much insulin as the body needs. When the body breaks down carbohydrates from food and drink and turns them into glucose, the pancreas releases insulin. When the insulin doesn’t work properly, the body’s blood glucose levels keep rising, and so even more insulin is released. This process will wear out the pancreas, meaning over time it is unable to produce as much insulin, and so the body’s blood glucose levels continue to rise and increase the risk of hyperglycaemia.
Type 2 diabetes is more likely to occur in people with high blood pressure or who are overweight, and it is the most common type of diabetes in the UK, owing to 90% of all cases of diabetes. According to Diabetes UK, around 3 in 5 cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. Men are slightly more likely than women to develop diabetes, and it is more common in South Asian and black people, who are two to four times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than white people.
To manage type 2 diabetes, it is essential to adopt a healthier diet and lifestyle. Some people have been able to put their diabetes into remission, preventing the need for medication to control their blood sugar levels. The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled over the last twenty years, and now one in 15 people in the UK has diabetes.
According to Diabetes UK, 4.7 million people in the UK have diabetes. Someone is diagnosed with diabetes every two minutes. Each week, diabetes leads to 169 amputations, 680 strokes, 580 heart attacks and 2,000 cases of heart failure.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, feeling very thirsty, increased tiredness, losing weight without trying, blurred vision, genital itching and cuts and wounds taking longer to heal. These symptoms are caused because of excess glucose levels in the blood that is not being used for energy. The body tries to remove the excess glucose from the body in the urine. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately. 6 out of 10 people who are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes show no symptoms at all, so if you do not have any of the symptoms but feel you are at risk of developing diabetes, you should discuss this with your doctor.
Complications of Diabetes
There are several complications caused by diabetes, particularly if you do not take action as soon as possible.
Retinopathy is a condition of the eyes that can affect your eyesight. If picked up early, it can be treated. Raised blood sugar levels can impact your circulation, leading to problems with your feet that, if untreated, can lead to amputation. Diabetes also increases the chances of suffering from a stroke or a heart attack. Kidney disease is another serious complication of diabetes caused by high blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. Other complications include nerve damage, gum disease, cancer and impotence. Due to the severe complications that diabetes can cause, you must seek medical advice if you experience any of the symptoms of diabetes or the complications.
Preventing Diabetes
Dietary choices
Reducing sugar intake is key to preventing diabetes. Full sugar fizzy drinks are a known cause of the increased risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as an increase in weight. Another food choice associated with the increased risk of type 2 diabetes is refined carbs. This includes white bread and white rice. Healthier alternatives include higher fibre carbohydrates such as brown rice, wholewheat pasta and wholegrain bread. Carbohydrates are also present in fruits, vegetables, pulses and some dairy products like yoghurt.
Red meat and processed meat are also associated with a heightened risk for type 2 diabetes, as well as cancer and some heart conditions. Bacon, ham, beef and lamb are examples of red and processed meats. Healthier alternatives include eggs, fish, pulses or white meats like chicken and turkey.
Reducing your salt intake will also help you reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Pre-packed snack foods like crisps and ready meals contain high levels of salt.
Exercise
Exercising can significantly reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Exercise suppresses the production of insulin and helps the body use glucose efficiently, lowering the risk of developing diabetes. Exercise will help maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of developing associated conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
For people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes, exercise has been shown in studies to reduce glucose levels in the body, lower insulin resistance and reduce the risk of developing complications of diabetes such as heart disease.
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for diabetes, but some people have been able to put their Type 2 diabetes into remission. This does not get rid of diabetes, but rather it occurs when the blood sugar levels in the body are in a normal range without medication. The best way to do this is through weight loss.
Comments