Obese

Obese.org.uk - Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease that currently affects about 2.3 million people throughout the UK although it is commonly thought among health experts to affect about half of a million more people who are not aware that they have the problem.

The short definition of diabetes is a condition in which the body produces too much glucose as a result of a decrease in the amount of insulin that is present in the body. In a healthy individual the pancreas produces insulin which helps to regulate the amount of sugar that remains in the blood stream. In the body of someone with diabetes there is not enough insulin in the blood stream to break down glucose and create energy.

There are two types of Diabetes known simply as Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 diabetes the body is unable to create insulin on its own and is diagnosed generally during youth mainly during the teenage years. It is very uncommon as it is an inherited trait and only 5-10% of all people who suffer from diabetes fall into the Type 1 category.

Type 2 diabetes is much more prevalent throughout the UK which occurs when the body's cells stop reacting to the insulin that is produced in the body. Many times Type 2 diabetes is the result of poor dietary choices throughout life and can be easily treated by monitoring blood glucose levels and eating a much healthier diet. The condition is progressive however and once diagnosed it will eventually lead to the need to take insulin injections or medications. Commonly Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed in overweight individuals when they each middle age, but as obesity becomes a larger problem in society it is now developing among young children as well.

Symptoms of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, the need to urinate frequently, chronic fatigue, and weight loss as a result of the imbalance in the body. Other less common symptoms can include cramps, constipation, blurred vision, and skin infections. It is important to have similar symptoms checked out immediately as diabetes can become deadly if left untreated.

Diabetes is not something that should be taken lightly, as diabetics can develop many health conditions that spout from the original diagnosis and can have many more health problems throughout the course of their life. However diabetics who correctly control their diabetes can live a full lifespan and enjoy the same quality of life as anyone else when properly medicated and regulated. Understanding the disease and its effects on the body can be the best treatment alongside medical treatment and will provide the best prognosis for an individual who is diagnosed with the disease.

Genetics is thought to play a large role along with obesity and poor eating habits in the development of diabetes so if you are overweight or have a relative who suffers from the disease it is advised that you see your GP immediately to be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes which signifies the onset of the disease.