WHAT IS DIABETES? 

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that occurs when the body is unable to properly regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Poor control of diabetes can lead to high blood sugar levels and cause long term damage to your overall health and organs. 

WHAT HEALTH PROBLEMS DOES IT CAUSE? 

High blood sugar levels can cause a lot of damage to your body and if not managed correctly, may lead to many diabetic complications. This will cause long term health problems, especially if they go untreated. 

HOW DOES DIABETES AFFECT OTHER PARTS OF YOUR BODY?

Eyes: Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the retina, often leading to vision impairment. It is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults in the UK. As a consequence of diabetic retinopathy, swelling can take place, called diabetic macular oedema. People with diabetes are also more prone to develop cataracts and glaucoma at an earlier age, contributing to vision reduction.

Feet: Foot health is often a neglected area anyway but high blood glucose levels can lead to insensitivity in the foot and lower limbs, which means you lose the ability to feel pain and distinguish hot or cold.  It can also lead to less blood supply to your feet leading to poor circulation. 

Loss of sensitivity means that you may not notice if you have a minor cut, sore or wound and poor circulation means if you do get a cut or sore, it will take longer to heal and open wounds are more likely to become infected. This combination is why there is an increase in risk of amputation for those who are diabetic. Regular podiatry appointments are the best way to look after your foot health.

Heart: High blood sugar levels can also cause problems to your blood vessels which can sometimes lead to serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes. 

Kidneys: High blood sugar levels creates more difficulty for the kidneys to clear waste. This may lead to Diabetic Nephropathy, the deterioration of the kidneys.

HOW CAN DIABETES BE TREATED? 

There is currently no cure for diabetes, therefore, the best way to deal with diabetes is to get it properly managed and controlled. If you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you must either inject or pump insulin into body to treat your diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may also have to use insulin, however, it can be managed through diet and lifestyle changes. 

HOW CAN YOU TEST FOR DIABETES?

An instant HbA1c test can confirm if you’re within the recommended range, or are considered pre-diabetic or confirm that you have diabetes. Using a small blood sample it will measure how well your blood sugar has been controlled over the last 3 months and provide a numerical reading.

As the HbA1c test provides 3-months insight, it is an important blood test for diagnosed diabetics. It provides a good indication of how well they are managing their diabetes.. 

Many people are more familiar with the glucose blood test – it measures the concentration of glucose molecules in your blood at a single point in time. The amount of glucose in your blood could also indicate whether you could be diabetic or not. People with diabetes can also use this test to manage their condition on a daily basis alongside regular HbA1C testing.

You can book an instant HbA1C test online at a cost of £54.50.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

When it comes to diabetes the symptoms are not always obvious and can often go unnoticed for long periods of time before being diagnosed. 

The most common symptoms include:

• Feeling constantly thirsty or dehydrated 
• Unintentional loss of weight and increased appetite (type 1)
• Vision begins to blur
• Numbness in your hands or feet (type 2)
• Fatigue 
• Urinating more frequently 

WHO IS AT RISK?

In the UK, type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes, affecting over 90% of sufferers. The symptoms of diabetes are often mild, therefore, it’s important to be aware of the risk factors that could make you more susceptible to diabetes in the future. 

According to Diabetes UK, type 2 diabetes is twice more likely in people of African descent in comparison to people of European descent and six times more likely in South Asian communities, making them a high risk category in developing diabetes. Additionally, people of African – Caribbean and South Asian descent are also at risk of type 2 diabetes much earlier, usually over the age of 25. On the other hand, for Europeans the risk increases when over the age of 40. Other factors contributing to diabetes include being overweight, high blood pressure and genetics. 

Other general risk factors include:

• Having high blood pressure
• Carrying extra weight around your middle
• Smoking 
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) sufferers
• Those with a sedentary lifestyle
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Those with disturbed sleep – this includes those who do not get enough sleep and those whose sleep too much

If you have symptoms of diabetes or general concerns about your diabetic risk, you can book a GP appointment to discuss in more detail. 

Alternatively, you can book in for an instant HbA1c test with a nurse. 

These days, we tend to be a bit more health focused with our approach to life. For those of us that think we are healthy, just how fit are we really?

A Health MOT is the best way to get a full picture of your overall wellbeing, knowing your body and its’ crucial health numbers can be instrumental in preventing illness and disease.

What numbers do we need to know?

1. Body Mass Index (BMI) – We’ve heard this term over and over in the media but do you really know what it means? BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. It is your weight divided by the square of your height in meters.
2. Resting heart rate – Resting Heart Rate is an indicator of your basic fitness level and a strong predictor of cardiovascular health.
3. Waist to hip ratio – Spare body fat can often be stored around the tummy and the abdomen’s organs. Research has shown that this kind of fat has health consequences which can contribute to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
4. Cholesterol – Did you know that over half of all UK adults have raised cholesterol and a cholesterol test is the only way you will know if you are affected? High cholesterol can lead to heart disease, a common killer in the UK.
5. Blood pressure – Having high blood pressure means that you are putting extra strain on your arteries and your heart. This strain can cause the arteries to clog up which can lead to a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease or dementia. All can be prevented with a quick simple test.
6. Blood sugars – Knowing your blood sugar levels can detect if you are diabetic or importantly if you are at risk of becoming diabetic. This is very important not only to monitor and effectively manage diabetes, but if it is type 2 adult onset that is caused by lifestyle, you may be able to make dietary changes to avoid medication and actually prevent the disease.
7. Bone density – Bone density testing is used to assess the strength of your bones. It can be used to identify if you are at risk of osteoporosis. The test, referred to as bone densitometry or bone mineral density scan (BMD), is a simple, non-invasive procedure that can be finished in just minutes.
8. Mammogram/prostate check – Depending on your age, your GP will advise whether to have one of these checks which can help detect early signs of tumours or cancerous cells.

If you want to find out your health numbers, you can book a full body medical or GP appointment online.