RAISING AWARENESS OF DIABETES

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. According to the International Diabetes Federation, today over 200 million people have the condition and this figure is expected to rise sharply, possibly to double by the year 2025. The increase in diabetes cases will represent a serious problem not only for people who have the condition and their families, but also for governments and the society in general. DIABETES IS A HEAVY BURDEN FOR ALL AND THE PUBLIC NEED TO BE IN ALERT.

#Diabetes is a common condition and its frequency is dramatically rising all over the world

Diabetes is particularly common among some particular groups, eg people of Indian origin living in the western world. You are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you have one or more risk factors listed below:

-Family history of diabetes

- excess weight, particularly abdominal obesity

- over 40 years of age (white people), over 25 years of age (black and minority ethnic groups)

- a sedentary lifestyle

- have ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease or hypertension

- previous diabetes during pregnancy or with polycystic ovary syndrome and obese

- previously demonstrated abnormalities of glucose metabolism, eg impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance

Many people (and maybe you too) have diabetes without knowing it

#Diabetes is a life-threatening condition

If neglected diabetes shortens your life and has a significant impact on your life. You can get serious complications including blindness, heart attack, kidney failure and amputations. If you are on high risk group, it is important to have your blood glucose, lipids and blood pressure measured at regular intervals/basis and to adjust your lifestyle to avoid excess body weight and so to maintain an appropriate level of physical activity.

#Diabetes can be detected early and managed effectively

If you are over 40, overweight, and a member of your family has/had diabetes, ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and lipids regularly and consider the required lifestyle changes. Be aware of early signs such as: increased thirst, going to the loo all the time and especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss, genital itching or regular episode of thrush, slow healing of wounds, blurred vision. In type 2 diabetes, the symptoms may not always be easily recognised.

#Diabetes can be prevented in some instances

Appropriate lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of diabetes. Reduce weight if you are overweight or obese. Maintain an appropriate level of physical activity and stay in touch with your healthcare provider/doctor

There is a global epidemic of obesity affecting all ages. Obesity is associated with insulin resistance. There is a strong association between obesity, diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Physical inactivity is independently associated with insulin resistance. Lifestyle changes in subjects with IGT decreases progression to diabetes.

@2005 Save the Diabetic Life (SDL) -www.sdlcharity.org -United Kingdom registered charity number 1088279