3 minute read
The epidemic of Type 1 Diabetes
THE EPIDEMIC OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
By Dr Julie Taylor
Every two minutes, someone finds out they have Type 2 Diabetes. The number of people living with Type 2 Diabetes in the UK has doubled since 1996 and around 7% of the UK population has diabetes. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes usually starts in childhood or adolescence. These people cannot make any insulin themselves and their own immune system has attacked the cells in the pancreas that make it. They need insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes usually affects adults. These people produce insulin but it is not effective in the body (insulin resistance) and over time not enough is made.
It is thought that type 2 Diabetes can go undetected for up to 10 years. This is a potentially serious health condition that can cause long term health problems. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age people in the UK. About 40% of people with Diabetes could develop kidney disease with about 20% needing dialysis. Having diabetes makes you at least twice as likely to have a heart attack or a stroke and fifteen times more likely to undergo amputations.
The good news is that there are things you can do to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. And if you already have diabetes, there are things that you can do to reduce the risks of complications.
Am I at risk of developing diabetes? People from Black African, African Caribbean and South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) backgrounds are at higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Other risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes are: • Age • Weight and your waist size • Having a close relative with diabetes You can check your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes at https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/know-yourrisk-dtc/ If you are at increased risk, you may be eligible to join the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. If your blood sugar levels are over a certain level, your surgery will also do a blood test once per year to monitor this and to pick up diabetes early.
How can I prevent Type 2 Diabetes? Diet is the most important part of lifestyle change. It is easier to lose weight on a good diet even if you are struggling to exercise, than it is by exercise if you eat a bad diet. Effective diets to prevent diabetes are those that reduce carbohydrate intake (bread, pasta, rice, cereals, potatoes). Cutting out sugary food and drink and refined grains such as white bread is an important first step. Modern research has shown that fats in foods such as dairy are not as bad for us as we once thought. However, we should cut out processed food.
Exercise can also help to prevent diabetes. When we exercise, our muscles use excess sugar in the blood and sugar that is stored in the muscles and liver. The muscles gradually replenish their stores after exercise, lowering blood sugar levels. Exercise can also help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Diet and exercise are also the two main changes that people with diabetes can make to help control their blood sugar levels. Your GP, practice pharmacist or nurse may also prescribe medication to help, but the more you can do yourself, the less medication you may need to take. We do know that diabetes can get worse over time, and that some people just can’t make the changes they need to. Your GP practice is there to support you to change but also to provide medication when the changes that you make are just not enough.
For more information on managing or preventing type 2 diabetes go to https://diabetes.org.uk
DR JULIE TAYLOR IS A GP PARTNER AT THE ORCHARD PRACTICE DARTFORD, CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF DARTFORD MODEL PCN AND A BOARD MEMBER OF THE DARTFORD, SWANLEY AND GRAVESHAM INTEGRATED CARE PARTNERSHIP.
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