Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term condition affecting two million people in the United Kingdom. It is caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.
The amount of sugar in your blood is controlled by insulin - a hormone produced by a gland behind your stomach, called the pancreas. When your food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin helps to move glucose from your blood and into different cells. The glucose is then broken down to make energy.
There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when a person's body produces does not produce insulin. It can also called insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes, because it often develops in the teenage years or before the age of 40.
A person with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections all their life. They must also carry out regular blood tests and eat a healthy diet to make sure that their blood sugar levels stay balanced.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is more common than type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when a person's body produces some insulin, but not enough for it to function properly, or when their body's cells do not react to insulin and so do not break down glucose into energy.
Type 2 diabetes is often associated with being obese. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as maturity onset diabetes because it is more common in older people.
People with type 2 diabetes may be able to control their symptoms simply by eating a healthy diet. They will also need to monitor their blood sugar level. However, type 2 diabetes can worsen with age, and people with it may eventually need insulin injections.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
- feeling very thirsty
- going to the toilet a lot
- losing weight without trying
- feeling very tired
If you think that you might be diabetic you should speak to your GP.
You can find out more about diabetes, its causes and treatment on the NHS Choices website.
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