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Over
1.4 million people in the UK have diabetes and another million probably
have the condition but don't know it. The percentages vary from
4 to 5% of the general population.
Diabetes
- or to give it its full name, diabetes mellitus - is a common
condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood
is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. This
is because the body's method of converting glucose into energy
is not working as it should.
Normally,
a hormone called insulin carefully controls the amount of glucose
in our blood. Insulin is made by a gland called the pancreas,
which lies just behind the stomach. It helps the glucose to enter
the cells where it is used as fuel by the body.
We
obtain glucose from the food that we eat, either from sweet foods
or from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread or potatoes.
The liver can also make glucose.
After
a meal, the blood glucose level rises and insulin is released
into the blood. When the blood glucose level falls - for
example, during physical activity - the level of insulin falls.
Insulin, therefore, plays a vital role in regulating the level
of blood glucose and, in particular, in stopping the blood glucose
from rising too high.
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The
information of this page has been extracted from the website of
the DIABETES UK Foundation. |
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There
are two main types of diabetes. These are:
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Type
1 diabetes, also
known as insulin dependent diabetes. |
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Type
1 diabetes develops when there is a severe lack of insulin
in the body because most or all of the cells in the pancreas that
produce it have been destroyed. This type of diabetes usually
appears in people under the age of 40, often in childhood. It
is treated by insulin injections and diet. |
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Type
2 diabetes, also
known as non insulin dependent diabetes. |
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Type
2 diabetes develops when the body can still produce some insulin, though
not enough for its needs, or when the insulin that the body produces
does not work properly. This type of diabetes usually appears
in people over the age of 40. It is treated by diet alone, or
by a combination of diet and tablets, or by a combination of diet
and insulin injections.
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The
good news about diabetes is that treatments are very effective
and the more you know about your condition, the more you can do
to help yourself stay healthy; lead the sort of life you want
to live, and to avoid the health problems associated with diabetes
in later life.
After
diagnosis, we will help you to monitor and prevent any complications
from the condition and will encourage you to take control of it.
There
are weekly diabetic clinics with a nurse and a doctor (usually
Dr Massey as the clinical leader in this area for the Practice)
totally dedicated to assess and treat your condition, modifying
you treatment or/and arranging the appropriate referral to help
you with different events.
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