Diabetes is a chronic disease occurring when the body does not produce enough insulin (Type 1), or can’t use it properly (Type 2), to regulate blood sugar levels. High levels of blood sugar lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, hearing loss, sleep apnoea and dementia. It also commonly damages the nerves in the hands and feet which causes chronic pain, foot ulcers and potentially amputation.
95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It is often preventable, as being overweight and not getting enough exercise contribute to its development. The symptoms can take many years to be noticed and are mild at first. They include feeling very thirsty, needing to urinate more often, blurred vision, feeling tired, losing weight unintentionally, tingling / numbness / pain in the hands or feet as the nerves and blood vessels are irreparably damaged.
Prevention is key! Lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy body weight, being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, eating a healthy diet low in sugar and saturated fat and not smoking, are the best way to prevent, delay or reverse the onset of type 2 diabetes.
In Nottingham County, the NHS runs the DESMOND project which is a structured education programme for adults living with type 2 diabetes. You can self refer! Click the link