What is Diabetes?

Diabetes exists when the body either doesn’t produce enough, or can’t properly use insulin. Everyone needs glucose (sugar) for energy.

Normally the body can easily process the glucose that is taken in through food using a substance called insulin, which is produced in the pancreas, an important organ in the body. Insulin is the hormone that processes the glucose from food into a form that the body can store or use immediately for energy.

Insulin is vital as it controls the balance of energy in the body and the storage of surplus glucose in the liver, as well as allowing glucose to enter our cells. The cells then ‘burn’ the glucose, creating energy. It is this energy that allows all of the body’s many functions to be performed.

Some people have a problem with their insulin and glucose may stay in the blood rather than being converted to energy. Also the liver may work to move excess glucose back into the blood. As a result, the level of glucose in the blood becomes higher than normal. When this happens, the levels of glucose in the blood remain higher than normal, although not high enough to be classified as diabetes. This condition, often known as ‘Pre-diabetes’, puts people at high risk of going on to develop full diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes is becoming a worldwide epidemic. Over 240 million people worldwide are already affected and, with today’s lifestyle contributing significantly to the causes of the disease, more people will suffer each year. By 2025, it is estimated that over 380 million people around the world will have diabetes.

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1: usually begins in childhood or early adult life and the symptoms often occur very suddenly. The body is unable to make insulin and therefore this must be provided artificially by injection.

Type 2: the symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop much more slowly or may not be noticed. The body is unable to properly use the insulin, either because important cells in the body will not allow insulin to enter the cells (known as ‘insulin resistance’) or because not enough insulin is produced (known as 'insulin deficit'), and sometimes a combination of the two. As a result, the glucose stays in the blood at abnormally high levels. This type of diabetes mostly occurs in older people; however it is gradually becoming more common in younger people.

Why is diabetes a serious condition?

Increased levels of glucose in the blood cause many long-term, serious health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, loss of vision or blindness and even amputations. Diabetes is the fourth main cause of death in most developed countries, with 6 deaths occurring every minute worldwide.

How is diabetes treated?

Type 1 diabetes is mainly treated by a balanced diet and intensive insulin therapy which is adjusted depending on the individual person’s diet and lifestyle.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes begins with changes to a healthier lifestyle, exercise and diet. If this does not bring down the level of glucose in the blood then oral medication or insulin injections are started. After 6 years with type 2 diabetes, more than 50% of people require insulin by injection to keep their blood glucose levels well controlled.