What
is Diabetes?
Diabetes
is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose (blood sugar), is too high.
Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you
eat.
Insulin,
a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to
be used for energy.
Sometimes
your body doesn’t make enough or any insulin, or doesn’t use insulin well.
Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.
Normally your pancreas senses when glucose has entered
your bloodstream and releases the right amount of insulin, so the glucose can
get into your cells. But if you have diabetes, this system doesn’t work. Over
time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems.
Although
diabetes has no cure, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and stay
healthy.
There are a number of variations of diabetes but the most
common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes
Type
1 Diabetes
About 10% of people with diabetes in the UK
have Type 1 diabetes. When you have Type 1 diabetes, your body attacks the
cells in your pancreas that make insulin, so you can't produce any insulin at
all. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to stay alive.
Type
2 Diabetes
About 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. When
you have Type 2 diabetes, even though your body is able to make insulin you don’t
make enough or what is made does not work properly. This can cause glucose
levels to keep rising
Gestational
diabetes develops in some women when they are pregnant. Most of
the time, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. However, if
you’ve had gestational diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2
diabetes later in life. Sometimes diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is
actually type 2 diabetes.
Essential Healthcare checklist for individuals living with Type 2 Diabetes
1. Get your blood glucose levels measured
2. Have your blood pressure measured
3. Have your blood fats measured
4. Have your eyes screened for signs of
retinopathy
5. Have your feet and legs checked
6. Have your kidney function monitored annually
7. Get individual, ongoing dietary advice
8. Get emotional and psychological support
9. Be offered a group education course in
your local area
10. See specialist diabetes healthcare
professionals to help you manage your diabetes
11. Get a free flu vaccination
12. Receive high-quality care if admitted to
hospital
13. Have the opportunity to talk about any
sexual problems
14. If you smoke, get support and advice on
how to quit
15. Get information and specialist care if
you are planning to have a baby
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