Diabetes
Source: NHS
In this topic (6)
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
There aretwo main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes wherethe body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
- type 2 diabetes where the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. Inthe UK,around 90% of all adultswith diabetes have type 2.
During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of blood glucose that their body is unable toproduce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known as gestational diabetes .
Articles for Diabetes
Causesof diabetes
The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach). When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin m
Diabetes
Read about diabetes, a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
Diabetic eye screening
Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year. If you have diabetes, your eyes are at risk from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to si
Living with diabetes
If you're diagnosed with diabetes, you'll need to eat healthily , take regular exercise and carry out regular blood teststo ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced. You can use the BMI healthy
Pre-diabetes
Many more people have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is sometimes known as pre-diabetes. Ifyour blood sugar level is above the
When to see a doctor
Visit your GP as soon as possible if you experience the main symptoms of diabetes, which include: feeling very thirsty urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night feeling very tired
