Diabetes

In the UK around 1.6 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes (and the last 30 years has seen a threefold increase in the number of cases of childhood diabetes), and it is a condition where a person’s blood sugar level is higher than normal. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas gland in the abdomen which controls the use of glucose within the body and Diabetes occurs when there is a problem in this process. There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1:

Blood sugar levels are caused to rise by the pancreas producing little or no insulin, and it is this type that is usually seen in young people.

Type 2:

Blood sugar levels are caused to rise because the pancreas produces insulin, but it's inadequate for the body’s needs and its effectiveness is reduced, and this type of diabetes tends to affect adults over 40 or overweight people. Worryingly, Type 2 diabetes often has few symptoms in the early stages, and because of this it's estimated that half of those with Type 2 diabetes have not yet been diagnosed.

If you have diabetes, you’ll probably know that it’s important to eat meals regularly, and to eat healthily. A healthy diet is one that is low in saturated fat, salt and sugary snacks and drinks. Try to eat regular meals throughout the day to keep your blood-sugar level constant and eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Stop smoking and reduce your alcohol intake. If you have diabetes, you can still eat foods such as chocolate and sweets as long as you keep your overall diet healthy.

If you think that you have diabetes, you should talk to your doctor, or for further information call the Diabetes UK Careline on 020 7424 1030 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm)