Tag Archives: type 1 diabetes

Diabetes threat in the UK

Leave a reply

BRITAIN is sitting on a diabetes timebomb and health bodies are failing to tackle the growing crisis, experts said yesterday.

As the number of sufferers in the UK soars towards four million, a new report warns of “missed opportunities”.

The charity Diabetes UK claims local Health and Wellbeing Boards – set up under National Health Service reforms – risk overlooking the need to improve diabetes care in their areas.

Failing to address the growing numbers with the condition is said to be creating huge problems for the NHS and raising concerns about the health of the nation.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, explained: “Health and Wellbeing Boards will have huge influence over health in their local areas and so they have a great opportunity to help tackle the rising tide of diabetes. But our analysis suggests that in some cases this is an opportunity that is being missed.

“The number of people with diabetes is rising at an alarming rate but there is not enough priority given to preventing Type 2 diabetes. And for those who already have diabetes, the support they need to manage their condition is inconsistent.

“This is leading to devastating complications, premature death and massive costs to the NHS.

Diabetes

Diabetes

“We want to work with Health and Wellbeing Boards and Clinical Commissioning Groups to help them improve diabetes healthcare, so everyone with diabetes and those at high risk of Type 2 diabetes get the good quality care they need to live long healthy lives.” The controversial boards are now responsible for improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.


But after examining 20 boards, the charity found the quality of diabetes policies “varies considerably” – and some give “no prominence to diabetes at all”.

The need to improve management of the condition was also “often absent” from policies.

Some strategies adopted do not clearly distinguish between Type 1 diabetes – an auto-immune disease – and Type 2, which is largely driven by lifestyle and is linked to obesity. The charity estimates 3.8 million people have diabetes in the UK, including 850,000 with Type 2 who do not know it.

The Department of Health said it had set “clear objectives for the NHS to improve care and management of diabetes”.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

Leave a reply

Development of diabetes symptoms

In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to develop rapidly over a couple of weeks, and are more severe. In type 2 diabetes, symptoms develop slowly and are usually milder.

Common symptoms of both types of diabetes are:

*Increased thirst
*Passing water frequently, especially at night
*Tiredness and fatigue
*Loss of weight
*Genital itching or recurrent thrush

In type 1 diabetes, less common symptoms are:

*Cramps
*Constipation
*Blurred vision
*Recurrent skin infections

Diabetes symptoms

Diabetes symptoms

In type 2 diabetes, symptoms may go unnoticed for years – only when complications of diabetes, such as foot ulceration or blurred vision, occur is diabetes diagnosed. Remember, all the symptoms may not be present. Whenever any of these symptoms arise, it’s important to be tested for diabetes.


Diagnosing diabetes

Diabetes may be detected in a routine urine test where excess glucose is present.

A blood test that measures the level of glucose in the blood will confirm whether or not the underlying cause could be diabetes. Finally a ‘glucose tolerance test’ is performed where serial blood sugar levels are measured following a fixed dose sugary drink. A person with diabetes is unable to clear the blood sugar as quickly as a normal person.