Nutrition and Dietary AdviceNutrition and dietary advice from a professional

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce, or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone, produced by the pancreas, which helps glucose (sugar) enter the cells, where it is then used as fuel for our daily activities. As a result, those with diabetes have an excess amount of glucose in their blood.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weight loss
• Excessive tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Skin and fungal infections
• Slow healing of wounds

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type I - develops when the insulin producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed, therefore no insulin can be produced. This is the least common type of diabetes, and usually appears in those under 40 years of age.

Type II - people with this type of diabetes either produce very little insulin, or the insulin they do produce doesn’t work effectively (insulin resistance). This type of diabetes is linked to being overweight, and usually appears in those over 40 years of age.

According to Diabetes UK the risk factors for Type II diabetes include:

• Close member of your family has Type II diabetes (parent/brother/sister).
• Being overweight - even being slightly overweight (BMI over 26) increases your risk of developing diabetes.
• Waist measurement of 31.5″ or over for women; 35″ or over for Asian men, and 37″ or over for white and black men.
• High blood pressure, or you’ve had a heart attack, or a stroke.
• A woman with polycystic ovary syndrome, and also being overweight.
• Having impaired glucose tolerance, or impaired fasting glycaemia.
• A woman, and also having gestational diabetes.
• Having severe mental health problems.

Many people have diabetes without realising it. Poorly controlled diabetes can cause a number of problems including, cardiovascular problems, stroke, kidney and eye disease, damage to the nervous system, muscoskeletal and skin conditions. Therefore, it is important to diagnose and treat diabetes as soon as possible.

Why not take this 2 Minute Test, to find out if you’re at risk of developing Type II diabetes?

Also, check out Diabetes UK or the American Diabetes Association for great resources on living with diabetes.

This is the first in a series of discussions on diabetes. Please be sure to contact me with any topics you would like to read on this subject.

Please note, if you have diabetes, you should be regularly monitored by your GP and dietitian. These notes are for general guidance only, and are not a substitute for regular diabetic checkups.

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You may also like to read the following:

• Understanding Diabetes - Animation
• Diabetes - How Important is Weight Loss?
• How to Prevent Diabetes