Our Information and Guidance team recently met the team at Diabetes UK, who promote awareness and management of diabetes. Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
There are 2 main types of diabetes:
- type 1 diabetes– where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin (not too much sugar in the blood).
- type 2 diabetes– where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin (too much sugar in the blood).
It’s very important to look out for the signs of Type 2 diabetes.
If you think that you may have Type 2 diabetes, you should consult your GP surgery. They will be able to carry out a finger prick blood test and an HbA1c Blood test to determine if this is the case.
Pre-diabetes may also be identified through a blood test, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal (HBA1c 42-47 mmol/mol), but not high enough for Type 2 diabetes. There are often no clear symptoms, but this is the warning stage before Type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes is, however, reversible with healthy lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise and weight control.
Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include age (being over 40), family history, blood pressure, weight and waist circumference. Ethnicity too can affect risk; people from Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds are two to four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age (from 25). Additionally, people from South Asian backgrounds are more likely to experience insulin resistance at a younger age. Family history and social environmental factors play a role, but it is still not clear why people from certain ethnic backgrounds have an increased risk.
Other possible risk factors include having had a heart attack or stroke, gestational diabetes, women with polycystic ovaries, or who gave birth to a baby over 10 pounds, smoking, alcohol consumption, disturbed sleep and depression or other mental illness. Diabetes UK have an online Know Your Risk tool which can be accessed here.
Unfortunately, having diabetes can cause other long-term complications, which include retinopathy (eye disease), cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke, nephropathy (kidney disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), foot problems, sexual problems in men and women and gum disease.
James developed diabetic macular oedema;
“Whilst at an eye clinic appointment, it was detected that I had fluid build-up in my left eye. I was told I needed injections for diabetic macular oedema – a form of retinopathy – which requires injections into your eye. I was really scared about the actual injections and the thought of going blind.
My family could sense a change in me as I was on edge and quieter than usual. It was an anxious time for me, it just never got any easier, but I did it for the good of my health. I’m not someone who talks about how I’m feeling, so it was a lot to deal with alone.
As a result of eye screening, they discovered fluid build-up around one of the retinas of my eye, and they diagnosed me with diabetic macular oedema.
I also received laser treatment to deal with a new blood vessel that formed, preventing any further damage to my eye. I would say that eye screening is giving me the confidence in retaining my eyesight, as any likely complications are being picked up at an early stage. I’m very pleased that eye screening is in place for people with diabetes to give our eyes that specific monitoring and attention to ensure we can maintain our sight.”
It is possible to reduce your likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes. The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP) is a partnership between Diabetes UK, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and NHS England (NHSE) which aims to reduce the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes-Mellitus, reduce blood glucose parameters and reduce weight in overweight individuals and help them to maintain a healthy weight.
You can ask your GP to refer you to the NDPP or check who your local provider is here and refer yourself. To meet the criteria, you need to be between the ages of 18 and 80, be registered with a GP and have an HbA1c of 42-47 mmol/mol (6.0 –6.4%) or a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) of 5.5 –6.9 mmol/l within the 12 months. There are some excluding factors including having a previous diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, severe or moderate frailty and having an active eating disorder, but this will be ascertained by the provider.
For those eligible for the NDPP, they will receive an initial assessment followed by 13 support sessions working through the modules of eating well, moving more and taking charge.
Dino was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and chose to undertake a programme. He shared;
“I’ve seen first-hand the effects of diabetes. My grandfather and my father had type 2 diabetes. Both had significant issues because of it and died prematurely. I don’t want to end up like that. If my son has grandchildren, I want to be healthy enough to enjoy them.
It was a 26-week online programme. We started off with weekly sessions, then every two weeks, and finally once a month. It helped you shift your mindset around diet and exercise, and what causes the condition, so you understand. And we’d sometimes be put into breakout rooms, and you’d get a chance to chat with other people with similar stories.
Because I was doing this with other people on a regular call, and because you were regularly recording your numbers and having monthly blood checks, you felt a responsibility to make changes. And to do well.”
Diabetes is a misunderstood condition. Better understanding can help address diabetes stigma, which we know is a common and serious issue. Raising awareness encourages earlier diagnosis, better education, and stronger community support, ensuring that no one faces diabetes alone. Early diagnosis, and support with managing blood sugar levels can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Julie said about her journey with diabetes;
“I find that diabetes is like the theatre. People see what’s on stage – which is me – my smile and my character. They say things like ‘It must be great to just eat loads of sugar when your blood sugar levels are low’ or ‘At least you can still do everything’.
But backstage – I feel like not many people care about that. Backstage is where it all happens – it’s me fighting to keep healthy every single day so I can go into the world with a smile on my face. It’s going on stage and holding myself together until this condition makes me unravel again.”
Diabetes UK have a wealth of informative resources for anyone affected by diabetes which can be found here.
If you would like to access support or information around any of the issues mentioned in this blog, give the Healthwatch Essex Information & Guidance Service a call on 0300 500 1895, email [email protected] or text/WhatsApp on 07712 395398.
Sharon Westfield de Cortez
Information & Guidance Manager