Lisa Wilson
10/10/2012

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is to high because the body's way of converting glucose into energy is not working as it should.

What should happen?
Our body needs glucose for energy, glucose enters the bloodstream when you digest carbohydrate from various kinds of food and drink (such as brad, rice, fruit, sugar and other sweet foods).
Glucose is also provided by the liver.
In people without diabetes, a hormone provided in the pancreas (a chemical messenger) called insulin carefully controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Insulin is made by a gland called the pancreas which lies just behind the stomach. It acts as the 'Key' that 'Unlocks' the body's cells to let the glucose in. The body's cells then convert the glucose into energy.

Types of Diabetes.

There are three main types of diabetes:

*Type 1 (Insulin Dependent)

*Type 2 (Usually controlled by diet and oral medication

*Gestational Diabetes (Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy)

Type One Diabetes

The main symptoms of undiagnosed Type One diabetes can include:

*Passing urine more often than usually, especially at night
*Increased thirst
*Extreme tiredness
*Unexplained weight loss
*Genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
*Slow healing of cuts and wounds
*Blurred vision

The signs and symptoms are usually very obvious and develop very quickly typically over a few weeks, the symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated and under control.

Treatments

*Insulin is prescribed (Injection)
*Regular blood tests (monitoring of blood glucose level)
*Healthy eating

Type Two Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, often called non-insulin dependent diabetes and approximately 90% of all cases of all diabetes worldwide are Type Two diabetes.

The main symptoms of undiagnosed Type Two diabetes can include:

*Increased thirst and urination
*Blurred vision
*Increase fatigue

The signs and symptoms may not be as obvious as Type one, the condition develops slowly over a period of years and may only be picked up in a routine medical check up.
As with Type Two diabetes the symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated and under control
With this type of diabetes you can reduce the risk of developing it with a healthy diet and lifestyle i.e

*Quite smoking
*Exercise ½ an hour a day
*Eat your five a day
*If overweight lose weight with doctor’s advice

An estimated 850,00 people who have the condition but don't know it.

There are 2.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK.

8.5% of the US population have diabetes – 25.8 million children and adults.

All Diabetes should be reviewed at least annual if not