Making sure you won’t be a victim of diabetes epidemic

The disease is a potential killer so it’s important to be aware of the signs

Shockingly, over the last 20 years, the number of patients with diabetes in Tayside has increased more than threefold to 23,000.

The figures are getting out of hand globally and that’s why World Health Day on April 7 is focusing on beating the disease.

The scary truth is that diabetes is an epidemic. Around 350 million people have the illness and that figure is likely to more than double in the next 20 years

And worryingly, studies are showing children are at an increasing risk of developing it.

Because it’s such a common illness many of us don’t realise how potentially serious it is.

Over time, it can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves , causing chronic problems and early death.

Put simply, diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.

This is because your pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin, or not enough insulin, to help glucose enter your body’s cells – or the insulin produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 accounts for about 10% of all adults with the disease and is treated by daily insulin doses, along with a healthy diet and regular physical activity.

It can develop at any age but usually appears before the age of 40 and especially in childhood.

Type 2 usually appears in people over the age of 40 and is also treated through diet and increased physical activity. Medication and/or insulin are also often required.

Graham Leese, consultant and professor in diabetes and endocrinology at Dundee University, says: “It is a true epidemic and we need to make changes in the way we live to reverse it.

“Diabetes Scotland promotes the four Ts to help us recognise the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes: thirst, toilet (going frequently and at night), tired (more than usual) and thinner (losing weight).”

“Type 2 diabetes often has no symptoms but can include what I unofficially call the three Ts of thirst, toilet and thrush (recurrent thrush infections).”

It is a true epidemic and we need to make changes

It’s a good idea to get the whole family used to a healthy diet to help prevent developing diabetes.