Diabetes Week
12 to 18 June 2005
In this article
What is Diabetes Week?
What is diabetes?
Causes
Symptoms
Managing diabetes
Where can I find out more?
What is Diabetes Week?
Diabetes Week is the annual campaign by Diabetes UK to increase the public's knowledge of diabetes, its symptoms and effects, and to raise funds for research into a cure.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which there's an excessive amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. This occurs when the body can't use glucose properly because of a lack of insulin or when the insulin that is present doesn't work properly. Around 1.4 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with the condition, but it's estimated a further 1 million have the diabetes without knowing it.
There are two types of diabetes:
* Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce any insulin.
* Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes occurs when the body produces insulin but it doesn' work properly or there isn't enough.
Causes
Glucose is produced when certain foods are digested. These foods include starchy products such as bread, rice, potatoes, chapatis and yams, and sugar and other sweet foods. Glucose is also produced by the liver.
Insulin is the hormone that helps this glucose enter the body's cells, where it's used as fuel. Without insulin or very little of it, this process can't take place, creating a build-up of sugar in the blood.
Symptoms
An excess of glucose in the blood can cause the following:
* increased thirst
* tiredness
* low energy levels
* unexplained weight loss
* blurred vision
* a frequent need to urinate, especially at night
There are complications that may arise from diabetes. One in four diabetics may go on to develop kidney disease, and eight per cent of diabetics are receiving some sort of treatment for this. People with diabetes are also two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
Managing diabetes
The main aim of diabetes treatments is to achieve near normal blood glucose levels. Diabetes is managed by a combination of healthy diet, regular physical activity and sometimes tablets and insulin injections.
Where can I find out more?
Diabetes UK supports 200,000 members. The charity aims to help and care for people with diabetes and their families, to represent and campaign for their interests, and to fund research into the condition. Diabetes UK also advises the health profession, produces publications and operates a careline.
For more information, call 0845 120 2960 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or go to www.diabetes.org.uk.
