This Sunday, November 14th is World Diabetes Day. An important day in raising awareness of diabetes, conditions that affect people with diabetes, and how to support those affected in managing conditions in order to live long and happy lives.
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent long-term health complications. Did you know worldwide, every 30 s, a limb is lost to diabetes? Therefore, it is crucial that we share information and talk about diabetes and what early indications to look out for.
What is diabetes?
There are different types of diabetes – Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the level of glucose in the blood is too high. Hyperglycaemia is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
What are common symptoms of diabetes?
Some of the early symptoms to keep an eye out for are:
Thirst
Extreme fatigue
Blurred vision
Slowly healing cuts or wounds
Unexplained weight loss
Frequent urination
What do I do if I think I have diabetes?
If you are recognising any of the above symptoms, or someone you know is worried they may be diabetic, it is essential that any concerns are raised with a healthcare professional straight away. Your GP will be able to advise you on medicine, as well as diet and exercise, in order to keep up a healthy lifestyle.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is very important that you check your feet regularly. You will need to look out for redness, bruising, ulcers, and blisters. It is common to experience less feeling in your feet, meaning that you are more prone to injury and may not realise when you have hurt yourself, so please take the time to check!
Below are some useful links about diabetes if you wish to find out more:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/
http://worlddiabetesday.org/about/
