World Diabetes Day 2018 – what are type 1 and 2 diabetes and what are the symptoms of the disease?
TODAY is World Diabetes Day, a campaign focused on raising awareness and provoking discussion of the disease.
Here is everything you need to know about the disease and how you can get involved with the campaign today.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious, lifelong condition where blood glucose levels are too high.
There are two main types, type 1 and type 2.
They are different conditions, but they're both serious.
There are some other rarer types of diabetes too.
All diabetes sufferers have too much glucose (sugar) in their blood.
We get glucose when our bodies break down carbohydrates that we eat or drink, and that glucose is released into our blood.
We also need a hormone called insulin, made by our pancreas, which allows the glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies.
If you don't have diabetes, your pancreas senses when glucose has entered your bloodstream and releases the right amount of insulin, so the glucose can get into your cells.
But if you have diabetes, this system doesn't work.
What are type 1 and type 2 diabetes and how are they different?
Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and treatable non-communicable disease that is rapidly increasing in numbers worldwide.
Type 1 diabetes is not preventable but can be managed with insulin injections.
When you’ve got type 1 diabetes, you can’t make any insulin at all.
If you’ve got type 2 diabetes, it’s a bit different.
The insulin you make either can’t work effectively, or you can’t produce enough of it.
In both types of diabetes, because glucose can’t get into your cells, it begins to build up in your blood. And too much glucose in your blood causes a lot of different problems.
To begin with it leads to diabetes symptoms, like having to wee a lot, being incredibly thirsty, and feeling very tired.
You may also lose weight, get infections like thrush or suffer from slow healing wounds.
How can I prevent type 2 diabetes?
Changing the way you eat can cut the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Eat more veg, fruit and whole grains and cut back on high-fat foods such as fried food, whole milk and cheeses.
Here are ways to help prevent type 2 diabetes:
- Manage your weight
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet
- Limit takeaway and processed foods
- Drink water
- Sleep well
- Keep stress low
When is World Diabetes Day and what does it promote?
World Diabetes Day is on November 14 every year.
Led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), each World Diabetes Day focuses on a theme related to diabetes.
The theme for 2018 and 2019 is The Family and Diabetes and the aim is to help you spot the warning signs of diabetes in your family.
MORE ON DIABETES
Topics covered have included diabetes and human rights, diabetes and lifestyle, diabetes and obesity, diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, and diabetes in children and adolescents.
While the campaigns last the whole year, the day itself marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best and John James Rickard Macleod, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
Themes each year include spotlighting different meals, healthy eating and women and diabetes.