Diabetes
Diabetes – the risk factors
- Diabetes and age
Most people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. The older you are, the greater your risk of diabetes. - Diabetes runs in families
The closer the relative with diabetes, the greater your risk of diabetes. African-Caribbean or South Asian people are three to five times more likely to have diabetes than white members of the population. - Weight is a factor in diabetes
Over 80 per cent of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The more overweight and unfit you are, the greater your risk of diabetes. - Diabetes and pregnancy
Pregnant women can develop a temporary type of diabetes called ‘gestational diabetes‘. Having this, or giving birth to a large baby can increase a woman’s risk of going on to develop Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes – the symptoms
- increased thirst
- going to the loo all the time – especially at night
- extreme tiredness
- weight loss
- genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
- blurred vision
There are many misconceptions about diabetes...
...being a ‘mild’ condition. But these misconceptions are potentially dangerous. Diabetes is serious – read on and make sure you know if you are at risk. Diabetes occurs when the body can’t use glucose (sugar) properly. As a result, people with diabetes have abnormally high levels of glucose in their blood.There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually affects people under 40 and is treated with insulin. Type 2 diabetes is usually found in people aged 40 or more and can be treated with diet and exercise alone, although it can often require tablets and sometimes, insulin.