Diabetes
Living with Diabetes.
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. It is also sometimes known as diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes affects two million people in England and Wales. It is also thought that there are a further 750,000 people who have the condition but are unaware of it.
You can also create an individualized information pack including local support and advice at One Link (opens a new window)
NHS choices has a symptom checker for type 2 diabetes click here to try it (opens a new window)
How does diabetes occur?
Normally, the amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland that is located behind the stomach). When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin helps to move any glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it is broken down to produce energy.
However, in diabetes, because there is either not enough insulin, or because there is a poor response (resistance) to insulin, the body is unable to fully use the glucose in the blood stream.
There are two types of diabetes: diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2.
Back to the top
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body produces no insulin. It is often referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes. It is also sometimes known as juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes, because it usually develops before the age of 40, often in the teenage years.
Type 1 diabetes is far less common than type 2 diabetes, which occurs when there is too little insulin produced by the body to work, or when the cells in the body do not react properly to insulin. People with type 1 diabetes make up only 5-15% of all people with diabetes.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to take insulin injections for life. You must also make sure that your blood glucose levels stay balanced by eating a healthy diet and carrying out regular blood tests.
Back to the top
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is produced by the body for it to function properly, or when the body’s cells do not react to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the body does not produce any insulin at all. Around 95% of all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be able to control your symptoms simply by eating a healthy diet, and monitoring your blood glucose level. However, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, you may eventually need to take insulin medication, usually in the form of injections.
Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as maturity onset diabetes because it is more common in older people.
Back to the top
Gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy)
During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of glucose in their blood that their body cannot produce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known as gestational diabetes, and affects approximately 2-7% of pregnant women.
Pregnancy can also sometimes make existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes more difficult to control. If you are pregnant, you may require additional time and effort to manage your diabetes during your pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of health problems developing in an unborn baby, so it is important that you keep the glucose levels in your blood under control.
In most cases, gestational diabetes disappears after the baby is born. However, women with the condition have an estimated 30% risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on in life.
Back to the top
What are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
Most of the symptoms of diabetes are the same for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, there are differences in the way the symptoms develop.
The main symptoms of diabetes
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
- feeling very thirsty,
- producing excessive amounts of urine (going to the toilet a lot),
- extreme tiredness (fatigue), and
- weight loss and muscle wasting (loss of muscle bulk).
- Other symptoms of diabetes can include:
- itchiness around the vagina or penis,
- recurring thrush as a result of the excess glucose in your urine, and
- blurred vision caused by the lenses of your eyes becoming very dry.
- However, not everyone will experience these other symptoms, and they are not usually severe in those who do get them.
Type 2 diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, the symptoms will usually develop over weeks or months. Your symptoms may develop so slowly that you do not realise that you are unwell for some time.
Type 2 diabetes may also cause additional symptoms. For example, if you have cuts and sores, they may take longer to heal.
It is sometimes possible to develop type 2 diabetes without having any symptoms at all, or only having a few symptoms. However, you will still require treatment to prevent other health problems such as kidney disease, from developing later on.
Back to the top
Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose)
If you have diabetes and you are receiving treatment, your blood glucose levels can become very low. This is known as hypoglycaemia, or a 'hypo'. A hypo occurs when any insulin that is in your body moves too much glucose out of your bloodstream.
Hypoglycaemia often occurs if you take too much insulin, although it can also occur if you skip a meal, exercise very vigorously or drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
Symptoms of a ‘hypo’ include:
- feeling shaky and irritable,
- sweating,
- tingling lips,
- feeling weak,
- hunger, and
- nausea (feeling sick).
A hypo can be brought under control simply by eating or drinking something that is sugary, such as a fizzy drink (but not a diet drink), sugar cubes or raisins. This should stop the attack. After you have had something sugary, you should eat a longer-acting carbohydrate food, such as some biscuits or a sandwich.
If a hypo is not brought under control it can lead to:
- confusion,
- slurred speech, and
- unconsciousness.
If this occurs, you will need emergency treatment. One widely used treatment is an injection of a hormone called glucagon. Glucagon raises the level of glucose in your blood.
See the Treatment section, above, and Useful links for more information about hypoglycaemia and hypos.
Back to the top
Hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose)
Type 2 diabetes occurs because your body is unable to produce enough insulin, or because the cells in your body do not respond properly to insulin.
This means that insulin cannot regulate your blood glucose level and, as a result, your blood glucose levels may become very high. This happens because there is no insulin to move glucose out of your bloodstream and into your cells to produce energy.
If your blood glucose levels become too high, you may experience what is known as hyperglycaemia. The symptoms of hyperglycaemia are similar to the main symptoms of diabetes but they may be more severe and come on suddenly. They include:
- extreme thirst,
- a dry mouth,
- blurred vision,
- drowsiness, and
- a frequent need to pass urine.
Hyperglycaemia can occur for several reasons including:
- eating too much,
- being unwell, or
- not taking enough insulin.
If left untreated, hyperglycaemia can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which can eventually cause unconsciousness and even death.
Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when your body begins to break down fats for energy, instead of glucose, leading to a build up of acids in your blood. However, diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare complication of diabetes.
See the Treatment section, above, and Useful links section for more information about hyperglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis.
Back to the top
Self-help advice
If you have diabetes, you will need to look after your health very carefully.
Ensuring that you lead a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly and looking after your condition can, in many cases, be enough to control your blood glucose levels without the need for further treatment.
Caring for your health will also make treating your diabetes easier and minimise your risk of developing any complications.
Your GP and diabetes care team will be able to advise you about what you need to do to ensure that you remain healthy and reduce your risk of developing further problems. They may also refer you to other specialists within your care team, such as a dietician, for further advice and support.
Local support and advice
X-Pert
A structured patient education programme for people with diabetes.
Diabetic Peer Advisors
Would you like to talk to someone local who is also living with diabetes and has been trained in diabetic care?
Diabetes UK (Isle of Wight Group)
Hold monthly meetings with a variety of speakers.
Back to the top
Eat healthily
The belief that if you have diabetes you will have to eat special foods is untrue. Your diet should be the same as that of anyone else - high in fibre, fruit and vegetables and low in fat, salt and sugar.
However, different foods will affect you in different ways, so it is important to know what to eat so you get the right amount of glucose for the insulin that you are taking. A diabetes dietician can help you to work out a diet plan that can be fitted to your specific needs.
Please see the 'lifestyle' section for more information on diet and recipe ideas.
Back to the top
Exercise regularly
Physical activity lowers your blood glucose level, so it is particularly important to exercise regularly if you have diabetes.
Like anyone else, you should aim to do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, at least five times a week. This can be any activity that gets you slightly out of breath and raises your heart rate. However, you should not start a new activity without consulting your GP or diabetes care team first.
As exercise will affect your blood glucose level, you and your care team may have to adjust your insulin treatment, or diet plan, in order to keep your glucose level steady.
Back to the top
Do not smoke
If you have diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke. If you also smoke, you are increasing this risk even further, as well as increasing your risk of many other serious smoking-related conditions, including lung cancer.
If you smoke and you would like to give up, your GP will be able to provide you with advice, support, and treatment to help you quit.
Back to the top
Drink alcohol in moderation
If you have diabetes, you should only drink alcohol in moderation, and you should never drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Depending on the amount that you drink, alcohol can cause either high, or low, blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia).
Drinking alcohol may also affect your ability to carry out insulin treatment, or blood glucose monitoring, so always be careful not to drink too much. For men, the recommended daily amount of alcohol is between 3-4 units and, for women, the recommended daily amount is between 2-3 units.
Back to the top
Let others know about your condition
If you have type 2 diabetes, you should wear an identity bracelet in order to let others know that you have the condition. This will ensure that if you blackout or collapse, emergency healthcare professionals will quickly know that you have diabetes.
You should also carry a glucagon kit with you in case of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose). Your diabetes care team should train you, plus several of your family members, and close friends, in how to use it.
See the Symptoms and Treatment sections, above, for more information about hypoglycaemia.
Back to the top
Look after your feet
Having diabetes means that you are more likely to develop problems with your feet, including foot ulcers and infections from minor cuts and grazes. This is due to the possibility of high blood glucose damaging the nerves in your feet (see the Complications section above).
To prevent problems with your feet, you should keep your nails short and wash your feet daily using warm water. Wear shoes that fit properly and see a podiatrist or chiropodist (a specialist in foot care) regularly so that any problems are detected early.
You should also regularly check your feet for any cuts, blisters or grazes because you may not be able to feel them if there is damage to the nerves in your feet. See your GP if you have a minor injury to your foot that does not start to heal within a few days.
Back to the top
Have regular eye tests
If you have type 2 diabetes, you should have your eyes tested at least once a year to check for retinopathy.
Retinopathy is an eye condition where the small blood vessels in your eye become damaged. It can occur if your blood glucose level is too high for a long period of time (hyperglycaemia). If left untreated, retinopathy can eventually cause blindness.
Regular eye tests should help to ensure that any signs of retinopathy are picked up as soon as they appear.
Back to the top
Last Updated 28/10/2009
Page last updated on: 02/11/2009
©2011 Isle of Wight Council
| Disclaimer
| Privacy |
Contact WebTeam | GOV.UK
| Freedom of Information | Report a problem