What is diabetes?

What is diabetes?

Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a condition that affects how the body uses glucose, a sugar we use as a source of energy. Once glucose is released from the food we eat and enters the bloodstream, your body releases a hormone called insulin. In the UK, 4.6 million people are living with diabetes, 1.1 million of those are undiagnosed and over 12 million are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.*

What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Generally develops in people under the age of 40. The symptoms can develop suddenly and include shaking and sweating, thirstiness and weight loss. Treatment is with insulin, as well as a healthy diet and exercise.

Usually develops in people over 40. With less obvious symptoms it develops relatively slowly and often goes unnoticed. It can be treated successfully with a healthy balanced diet and physical activity, and sometimes the addition of tablets or insulin injections may be necessary

References

*www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/diabetes-prevalence-statistics
*www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2017-11/diabetes_in_the_uk_2010.pdf