Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

Definition

• Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high. As the body can not use it properly.
• Insulin a hormone produced by the pancreas helps glucose to enter cells, where the body uses it as a fuel.
• There are two types:
  • Type 1 diabetes- where the body does not produce any insulin
  • Type 2 diabetes - where the body does not utilise the insulin to function normally (most common of the two)
    
    

Factors causing DM:

• genetic  (familiy history)
• Physically inactive
• Overweight
• Diabetes due to pregnancy

 
Statistics

• 2 million people are diagnosed with diabetes in the U.K.

• Approximately 750,000 are undiagnosed.

• Diabetics are at a high risk of:

  • Cardiovascular disease

  • Blindness

  • Kidney failure.
    

Do you have Diabetic symptoms like?

• Increased Thirst
• Frequent urination (usually noticed at night)
• Extreme tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Weight loss
• Regular episode of thrush
• Genital itching

What can you do.

• Risk of DM can be significantly reduced by:
  • increasing physical activity
  • reducing body weight
  • watching your diet
• A simple fasting blood test can exclude or diagnose DM.
• Knowledge, understanding and acquiring self-management skills are very important to prevent complications of DM.

Back