The five diabetes facts everyone should know
A NEW campaign will be launched today to improve people’s understanding of diabetes and its seriousness.
Diabetes UK Cymru will send postcards featuring five key facts about the disease to every GP surgery and pharmacy in Wales.
A total of 50,000 postcards will be sent out – one for every person in Wales with undiagnosed diabetes.
The campaign is designed to dispel some of the common misconceptions about the condition, which accounts for 10% of NHS expenditure.
Dai Williams, national director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “As around one in 20 people are now diagnosed with diabetes in Wales, it is vital that people properly understand the condition.
“Sadly, many people still believe that type 2 diabetes is less serious than type 1 and many children in Wales experience bullying and discrimination because people wrongly believe that type 1 diabetes is linked to being overweight.
“As people can live with diabetes without knowing it for up to 10 years, we also launched the campaign to help find the 50,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes in Wales to ensure they start receiving treatment before they develop the condition’s devastating complications.”
FACT 1: There is no mild form of diabetes
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are equally as serious as both can lead to devastating complications if poorly managed.
People often wrongly believe type 2 diabetes is “mild” or “not the serious type” but both types are serious lifelong conditions which need to be managed carefully to reduce the risk of complications.
FACT 2: Diabetes can cause heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, blindness and amputations if poorly controlled
Many people aren’t aware diabetes can lead to this range of complications when poorly managed.
People with diabetes can reduce their risk of complications by keeping active, eating a healthy, balanced diet, taking prescribed medications, keeping blood glucose levels within the levels recommended by their care team and by attending all healthcare appointments, including annual retinal screening.
FACT 3: Eating a balanced diet and getting active can reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes
There are a number of risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, which cannot be prevented, including family history of diabetes and being over the age of 40, or 25 for people from black or South Asian communities.
But the most common risk factors for the condition are being overweight and having a large waist – that’s 37 inches or more for men (or 35 inches or more for South Asian men) and 31.5 inches or more for women.
The easiest way of reducing your risk of developing the condition is eating a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight and getting active.
FACT 4: Children can have diabetes without being overweight as type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented
Unfortunately, many children and adults with type 1 diabetes face ignorance and discrimination about their condition as people wrongly believe type 1 diabetes is linked to lifestyle.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. It happens when the body stops making insulin and is treated with insulin injections or an insulin pump for life after diagnosis.
FACT 5: 50,000 people in Wales are estimated not to know they have diabetes
Diabetes is rapidly rising in Wales and the 50,000 figure was estimated by the Assembly Government. Nearly all of these 50,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes – including feeling extremely tired, thirsty and going to the loo more often (particularly at night) – develop slowly over time and can often by missed.
People can live with type 2 diabetes for up to 10 years without knowing it, which means half of these people will already have developed the condition’s complications by the time they are diagnosed.
Diabetes UK Cymru urges anyone with the symptoms to have a diabetes test.
The campaign is being supported by broadcaster Chris Needs, who has type 2 diabetes, and by Wales and Cardiff Blues star Jamie Roberts, who is studying to become a doctor.
Chris said: “I know how important it is that people with diabetes understand the condition. As someone who has lived with type 2 diabetes for nine years, I know that there is no mild form of diabetes.
“People with the condition need to understand that, if poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to devastating complications such as heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, blindness and amputation.
“I am also supporting the campaign to try to find the 50,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes in Wales as I was shocked and surprised to find out I had the condition.”
Jamie added: “50,000 people are thought to have undiagnosed diabetes in Wales and it is vital that anyone with its symptoms has a diabetes test.
“As a professional rugby player, I also want people to know that they can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form, by getting active, being a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet.”
source: walesonline.co.uk
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