6/10/2024 8:20:00 AM
Diabates Awareness Week 2024
Living with diabetes places an enormous emotional, physical, and financial burden on individuals, their families, and society as a whole. In the United Kingdom alone, the NHS spends at least £10 billion annually on treating diabetes and its complications, with the cost of treating complications representing a significantly higher portion of this expenditure. Increased funding for diabetes awareness is crucial in addressing and potentially curing this ongoing health crisis. The prevalence of diabetes has seen a dramatic rise, increasing from 108 million cases in 1980 to 422 million in 2014.
Diabetes is a leading cause of many serious health conditions such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and lower limb amputations. However, regular health checks and preventative measures such as a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight, and avoiding tobacco use can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Therefore, raising awareness and educating the public about these measures is essential in combating the diabetes epidemic and mitigating its devastating effects on individuals and society.
What is Diabetes?
To answer that, you first need to understand the role of insulin in the body.
When we eat, our body turns food into sugars, or glucose. At that point, our pancreas is supposed to release insulin. Insulin serves as a ‘key’ to open our cells, to allow the glucose to enter and allow us to use the glucose for energy. But with diabetes, this system does not work. There are various types of diabetes, and it can strike anyone, from any walk of life.
Statistics
- It is estimated that more than 5.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, which is an all-time high.
- Data shows that more than 4.4 million people in the UK live with diabetes. Additionally, 1.2 million people could be living with type 2 diabetes who are yet to be diagnosed.
- These registration figures for 2022-23 are up by 167,822 from 2021-22.
The Different Types of Diabetes and Their Impact
Type 1 Diabetes
Around 8% of people with diabetes have Type 1 diabetes.
This can also be referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes isn’t caused by poor diet or an unhealthy lifestyle, it is an autoimmune condition. For reasons not yet fully understood, the immune system - which is meant to protect from viruses and bacteria - attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells.
People usually develop Type 1 diabetes before the age of 40, and whilst it is commonly diagnosed in children, the condition can develop at any age.
After diagnosis, people with Type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet.
Type 2 Diabetes
Around 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.
With Type 2 diabetes the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance).
Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all contribute to the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. People with a lot of visceral fat, also known as central obesity, belly fat, or abdominal obesity, are especially at risk. Being overweight/obese causes the body to release chemicals that can destabilise the body’s cardiovascular and metabolic systems.
Some people may be able to control their Type 2 diabetes symptoms by losing weight, following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and monitoring their blood glucose levels. However, Type 2 diabetes is typically a progressive disease - it gradually gets worse - and the person may eventually have to take insulin.
Other Types
Around 2% of people have other types of diabetes.
Including monogenic diabetes, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and diabetes caused by rare syndromes.
Who is at High Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes?
- The risk increases with age. People are more at risk if they’re white and over 40 or over 25 if they’re African-Caribbean, Black African, or South Asian.
- Type 2 diabetes is two to four times more likely in people of South Asian Descent and African-Caribbean or Black African descent.
- People are 6 times more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if they have a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes.
- People who have ever had high blood pressure.
- People who are overweight especially if they are large around the middle.
Other factors that can affect a person’s risk of Type 2 diabetes include:
- gestational diabetes
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- mental health problems
- sedentary lifestyle
- smoking
- alcohol
- sleep.
Ref: Diabetes.org.uk.
Find Out Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Determining your potential risk of Type 2 diabetes only takes a few minutes and could be the most important thing you do today. The test provides your potential risk and ways to reduce it with preventative methods. So why not take the test and encourage friends, family, and others to do the same, by clicking here.
Diabetes Prevention and Management Advice
Achieving and Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Everyone should aim to maintain or achieve a healthy weight, to improve their health and reduce the risk of diseases associated with being overweight and obesity, such as Type 2 diabetes. People should be encouraged to follow strategies that may make it easier to maintain a healthy weight by balancing ‘calories in’ (from food and drink) and ‘calories out’ (from being physically active):
- eat regularly and include starchy carbohydrates such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta, choosing wholegrain where possible
- eat fibre-rich foods such as oats, beans, peas, lentils, grains, seeds, fruit, vegetables, wholegrain bread and brown rice and pasta
- eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day, in place of foods higher in fat and calories
- adopt a low-fat diet
- avoid increasing fat or calorie intake
- consume as little as possible of fried food; drinks and confectionery high in added sugars (such as cakes, pastries and sugar-sweetened drinks); and other food high in fat and sugar (such as some take-away and fast foods)
- minimise calorie intake from alcohol
- watch the portion size of meals and snacks, and how often they are eating throughout the day
- eat breakfast
- make activities they enjoy, such as walking, cycling, swimming, aerobics and gardening, a routine part of life and build other activities into their daily routine - for example, by taking the stairs instead of the lift or taking a walk at lunchtime
- minimise sedentary activities, such as sitting for long periods watching television, at a computer or playing video games
- use physically active forms of travel such as walking and cycling.
Effective Weight-loss Programmes
Effective weight-loss programmes should:
- address the reasons why someone might find it difficult to lose weight
- be tailored to individual needs and choices
- be sensitive to the person’s weight concerns
- be based on a balanced, healthy diet
- encourage regular physical activity
- expect people to lose no more than 0.5-1 kg (1-2 lb) a week
- identify and address barriers to change.
Physical Activity
Exercise can help to prevent diabetes in a number of ways.
During exercise, our muscles use any excess sugar in the blood and the sugar, known as glycogen, that is stored in the muscles and liver.
After exercise is completed, the muscles will gradually replenish their sugar stores by taking in sugar from the blood. This helps lower blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity.
Regular exercise, along with a good diet, can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes and can help reduce cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
Even a little extra activity each day can help. Some basic steps can really help to make a difference if they become a regular habit, such as walking to the shops rather than using the car or getting off the bus a stop early.
Diabetes Symptoms and Complications
Recognising the symptoms of diabetes is crucial for early diagnosis and management. Common symptoms include:
- toilet - going for a wee a lot, especially at night
- thirsty - being really thirsty
- tired - feeling more tired than usual
- thinner - losing weight without trying to
- genital itching or thrush
- cuts and wounds take longer to heal
- blurred eyesight
- increased hunger.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to severe complications such as:
- heart disease and stroke
- nerve damage
- diabetic retinopathy
- kidney disease
- foot problems
- sexual dysfunction
- pregnancy complications.
Ref: Diabetes.org.uk.
What To Do If You’re Showing Diabetes Symptoms
If you feel very unwell or your symptoms have come on quickly seek an urgent appointment with your GP or call NHS 111. If you have any diabetes symptoms, it’s important to contact your GP and ask for a blood test for diabetes. Find out more about getting tested for diabetes.
How You Can Support Diabetes Awareness Week
You can get involved with Diabetes Awareness Week by exploring various activities and initiatives. Visit diabetes.org to connect with Diabetes UK, the largest diabetes charity in the UK. Over the past decade, they have achieved remarkable milestones:
- raised over £66 million for diabetes research
- initiated more than 1.1 million posts in online forums where people share their experiences and advice
- conducted over 2.25 million checks with the "Know Your Risk" tool, providing instant practical tips and lifestyle advice based on your diabetes risk.
Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the fight against diabetes. Whether you choose to donate, share information, participate in charity events or contribute in other ways, your involvement makes a massive difference.
Final Remarks
This year’s Diabetes Awareness Week focuses on the essential health checks needed for managing or detecting diabetes. Living with diabetes often involves numerous tests and checks. It can feel overwhelming, and you might think you’re fine or lack the time for these checks. However, regular health checks are crucial for maintaining your health and ensuring you can continue living life to the fullest.
By participating in Diabetes Awareness Week, you can help highlight the daily realities of living with diabetes, the importance of regular health check-ups and the implementation of preventative and management measures.
Further Continued Professional Development (CPD) Opportunities
Interested in learning more about Diabetes Awareness? Our Diabetes Awareness eLearning module covers essential aspects of diabetes management. Users will understand the types of diabetes, insulin's role, and the national health impact. This module explains the aims of the NHS DPP, as well as the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. The module emphasises prevention through early intervention, healthy weight maintenance, and culturally appropriate strategies. Diagnostic methods for both types of diabetes, including FPG, HbA1c, and OGT tests, are detailed, and users will learn about hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, their causes, symptoms, and complications. The module also explains the different groups of insulin and the correct procedure on how these should be injected.
This module is suitable for clinical staff members and equips them with the information to effectively manage and educate patients.
How Do You Access the Blue Stream Academy eLearning Platform?
Click here for more information about Blue Stream Academy and what we offer. Alternatively, contact us via email at info@bluestreamacademy.com or speak with a team member at 01773 822549.