Frequently Asked Questions
Click on question to reveal the answer. Answers are from various Internet sources, including the British Diabetic Association.
- What are the early signs of diabetes?
Common warnings signs of diabetes include:
Increased thirst.
Increased hunger (especially after eating)
Dry mouth.
Frequent urination or urine infections.
Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
Blurred vision.
Headaches.
- When to see a doctor?
Visit your GP as soon as possible if you experience the main symptoms of diabetes, which include:
feeling very thirsty
urinating more frequently than usual, particularly at night
feeling very tired
weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
cuts or wounds that heal slowly
blurred vision
Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly over weeks or even days.
Many people have type 2 diabetes for years without realising because the early symptoms tend to be general.
- What is the cause of diabetes?
The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach).
When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy.
However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced doesn't work properly.
Although there are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight.
- When should I have eye checks?
Everyone with diabetes aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year.
If you have diabetes, your eyes are at risk from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to sight loss if it's not treated.
Screening, which involves a half-hour check to examine the back of the eyes, is a way of detecting the condition early so it can be treated more effectively.
- What is TYPE 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood to become too high.
It happens when your body can't produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose.
You need daily injections of insulin to keep your blood glucose levels under control.
Managing type 1 diabetes can take time to get used to, but you can still do all the things you enjoy. This guide is here to help.
Type 1 diabetes isn't linked with age or being overweight – this is type 2 diabetes.
- What is TYPE 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high.
It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness. It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves.
It's a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life. You may need to change your diet, take medicines and have regular check-ups.
It's caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin. It's often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.
- How about driving, should I have to tell the DVLA?
If you're taking insulin, you will need to tell DVLA. This is because of the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). You can be fined if you don't tell DVLA.
- What checks should be done before driving?
egally, if you have diabetes and you drive, you need to:
check your blood glucose no longer than 2 hours before driving
check your blood every 2 hours if you're on a long journey
travel with sugary snacks and snacks with long-lasting carbs, like a cereal bar or banana
If you feel your levels are low:
stop the car when it's safe
remove the keys from the ignition
get out of the driver's seat
check your blood glucose and treat your hypo
don't drive for 45 minutes after you start to feel better
- What support is available for diabetics?
The charity Diabetes UK runs local support groups.
These can help with things like managing your diabetes on a daily basis, diet, exercise or dealing with emotional problems, such as depression. They offer a place to talk and find out how others live with the condition.
- What regular checks should a diabetic have?
Every 3 months
Blood sugar checks (HbA1C test)
Checks your average blood sugar levels and how close they are to normal.
You have these checks every 3 months when newly diagnosed, then every 6 months once you're stable.
This can be done by your GP or diabetes nurse.
Once a year
Feet
Checks if you've lost any feeling in your feet, and for ulcers and infections.
This can be done by your GP, diabetes nurse or podiatrist.
Speak to your GP immediately if you have cuts, bruises or numbness in your feet.
Eyes
Checks for damage to blood vessels in your eyes.
Speak to your GP immediately if you have blurred vision.
Blood pressure, cholesterol and kidneys
Checks for high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease.
This can be done by your GP or diabetes nurse.
- Does diabetes vary in different ethnic groups?
People of different racial and ethnic groups are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans have a higher risk for these diseases.
- Which ethnic group has the highest risk of diabetes?
The rates of diagnosed diabetes in adults by race/ethnic background are:
7.4% of non-Hispanic whites.
8.0% of Asian Americans.
12.1% of Hispanics.
12.7% of non-Hispanic blacks.
15.1% of American Indians/Alaskan Natives.
- How does diabetes in the UK compare with the rest of Europe?
The UK currently ranks as the country with the highest level of obesity in Europe, with more than 1 in 4(28.1%) adults obese and nearly two out of three(63.4%) overweight.
Over the next 20 years, the number of obese adults in the country is forecast to soar to 26 million people.
According to health experts, such a rise would result in more than a million extra cases of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Obesity is also no longer a condition that just affects older people, although the likelihood does increase with age, and increasing numbers of young people have been diagnosed with obesity.
Data from Public Health England suggests that nearly a third (31.2%) of children aged 2 to 15 years old are obese.
- How does obesity cause type 2 diabetes?
While the exact causes of diabetes are still not fully understood, it is known that factors up the risk of developing different types of diabetes mellitus.
For type 2 diabetes, this includes being overweight or obese (having a body mass index - BMI - of 30 or greater).
In fact, obesity is believed to account for 80-85% of the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while recent research suggests that obese people are up to 80 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with a BMI of less than 22.
How does obesity cause type 2 diabetes?
It is a well-known fact that if you are overweight or obese, you are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly if you have excess weight around your tummy (abdomen).
Inflammatory response
Studies suggest that abdominal fat causes fat cells to release ‘pro-inflammatory’ chemicals, which can make the body less sensitive to the insulin it produces by disrupting the function of insulin responsive cells and their ability to respond to insulin.
This is known as insulin resistance - the hallmark of type 2 diabetes.
Having excess abdominal fat (i.e. a large waistline) is known as central or abdominal obesity, a particularly high-risk form of obesity.
- What is BMI and how is it calculated?
The body mass index (BMI) is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy.
The BMI calculation divides an adult's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared. For example, A BMI of 25 means 25kg/m2.
The result is used to determine if that individual is obese, overweight, normal weight or underweight depending on where they fall within the BMI category ranges.
...
Example BMI Calculations209 pounds = 95 kilograms.
6 feet 2 inches = 1.88m.
1.88 x 1.88 = 3.53.
- What is the cause of TYPE 1 diabetes?
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Usually, the body's own immune system — which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses — mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing (islet, or islets of Langerhans) cells in the pancreas. Other possible causes include: Genetics
- Is type 1 diabetes dangerous?
Complications of type 1 diabetes. If diabetes isn't treated, it can lead to a number of different health problems. High glucose levels can damage blood vessels, nerves and organs. Even a mildly raised glucose level that doesn't cause any symptoms can have damaging effects in the long term.
- What happens if type 2 diabetes is left untreated?
Complications of Diabetes. ... If type 2 diabetes goes untreated, the high blood sugar can affect various cells and organs in the body. Complications include kidney damage, often leading to dialysis, eye damage, which could result in blindness, or an increased risk for heart disease or stroke.
- What foods lower blood sugar levels?
Diabetes & Diet: 7 Foods That Control Blood Sugar
Raw, Cooked, or Roasted Vegetables. These add color, flavor, and texture to a meal. ...
Greens. Go beyond your regular salad and try kale, spinach, and chard. ...
Flavorful, Low-calorie Drinks. ...
Melon or Berries. ...
Whole-grain, Higher-fiber Foods. ...
A Little Fat. ...
Protein.
- What foods raise blood sugar levels?
Your doctor may tell you to have really sugary foods or drinks (like regular soda, orange juice, or cake frosting) or might give you glucose tablets or gel to take — all of these can help to raise your blood sugar level fast, which is what you need to do when it's low. Wait about 10 minutes to let the sugar work.
- Can you die from low blood sugar?
If your blood sugar drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), you may have symptoms, such as feeling tired, weak, or shaky. If your blood sugar drops very low(usually below 20 mg/dL) and you do not get help, you could become confused or drowsy or even lose consciousness and possibly die.
- Can drinking a lot of water lower blood sugar levels?
Drinking extra water will not dilute your blood sugar levels if you are already fully hydrated. However, being dehydrated can cause blood sugars to concentrate and subsequently rise. ... Drinking water can lower blood sugar levels by diluting the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood stream.
- How can I stabilize my blood sugar overnight?
To remedy your low blood sugar symptoms so you can sleep through the night again, avoid foods that lower blood sugar and consider implementing the following strategies:
Eat a breakfast low in carbohydrates. ...
Eat a little protein and fat every few hours to keep blood sugar levels stable. ...
Adopt a lower-carbohydrate diet
- What do you do if your blood sugar is high at night?
TIPS FOR A BETTER NIGHT SLEEP
Check and monitor your blood glucose to keep it under control.
Establish a regular bedtime routine.
Ensure your bed is large and comfortable enough.
Ensure your room is cool and well ventilated.
Ensure your room is dark and free from noise.
Incorporating a period of exercise into each da
- Which fruit can diabetic patients eat freely?
The study, which followed nearly 190,000 people over a number of years, found that eating whole fruits — especially blueberries, grapes, and apples — significantly reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes. On the flip side, drinking more fruit juices actually increases the risk for diabetes
