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7th November 2011
A UK charity has reported a rise in type-2 diabetes
The charity Diabetes UK has reported a rise in type-2 diabetes of nearly 130,000 in the past year alone. The national figure for type-2 diabetes sufferers now stands at 2.9million.
Unlike type-1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease causing the destruction of insulin-producing cells and which affects only 10% of all sufferers, type-2 diabetes is linked to lifestyle.
Diabetes UK points out in the report that individuals who are overweight are more likely to develop the condition and “Losing 10% of your weight reduces your chances of developing type-2 diabetes by 50%”.
Some people have type-2 diabetes for up to 10 years without being aware and where this happens complications can occur. The charity's report stresses the importance of NHS vascular screening to detect early signs to avoid the development of dysvascularity - high blood glucose levels which damage the blood vessels and reduce the supply of blood to an affected limb. Dysvascularity can result in the affected limb having to be amputated.
Symptoms that people should look out for include:
- frequent urination (especially at night)
- increased thirst
- extreme tiredness
- unexplained weight loss
- genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
- slow healing of cuts and wounds
- blurred vision.
Other factors which increase the risk of developing the condition are reported as:
- being over 40
- having relatives who have the disease
- being Black or Asian
- having a waistline of 37 inches or more if a man (35 inches or more for South Asian males) or
- over 31.5 inches for women - irrespective of weight
As well as launching an awareness campaign of the risk factors associated with developing the debilitating condition, Diabetes UK hopes to encourage people to change their life-style, including eating healthier.
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