Diabetes is a serious condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high. If left untreated it can lead to life threatening complications. However, if diagnosed early, the risk of serious health problems can be reduced and diabetes can be controlled.

One of the goals of World Diabetes Day on 14th November is to raise awareness of the risks of uncontrolled or undetected diabetes and to highlight the warning signs, in particular for children and adolescents.

There are two main types of Diabetes. Type 1 is usually diagnosed at a younger age and needs to be treated with insulin. Type 2 can be treated with healthy eating, medication and/or insulin. Common symptoms of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst
• Passing urine more frequently especially at night
• Extreme tiredness
• Weight loss
• Slow healing of wounds
• Blurred vision

The Diabetes Specialist Team at St Mary’s Hospital run education sessions for people with Type 2 diabetes. Contact Helen Pascoe at the Diabetes Centre, for details on X-PERT is a six week course which educates and supports people with diabetes and looks at what diabetes is, how to eat healthily and how to live with diabetes. The course is held in Cowes, Newport, Ryde and Sandown.

Dr. Al-Mrayat, Clinical Director and Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology said,

“The key to preventing Type 2 diabetes, in the majority of cases, is a healthy life style and exercise. It is important to diagnose diabetes at an early stage to start treatment promptly and screen for potential complications to prevent serious health problems. Having diabetes does not prevent one from leading an active life.”

If you are one or more of the following, you are at more risk of developing diabetes:

• Have a member of the family with Type 2 diabetes (e.g. parent, brother or sister)
• Overweight or your waist is 31.5 inches or over if you are a woman, or 37 inches if you are a man
• Have high blood pressure or have you had a stroke
• A female with polycystic ovary syndrome
• A female who has had gestational diabetes (or a baby over 9lbs at birth)
• Have had an abnormal blood glucose level in the past
• Some people from other ethnic backgrounds e.g. Asian or African Caribbean origin can be at a higher risk of developing diabetes.

If you think you have any of the symptoms of diabetes or are at risk of developing it, contact your GP. If you are screened and diagnosed as having diabetes, you will be given advice on how to self manage your diabetes and, if necessary, begin medication.

More information on the Diabetes UK website www.diabetes.org.uk, and www.diabetes.nhs.uk

If you have diabetes and are interested in attending the X-PERT course, please contact Helen Pascoe at the Diabetes Centre, St Mary’s Hospital on 534248 or speak to your Practice Nurse.