A diabetes diagnosis, whether Type 1 or Type 2, means you will have to pay close attention to your nutrition and its effect on blood glucose levels. Many people, particularly those who have only recently received a diagnosis, struggle to manage this, and this is when the support of a specialised diabetes care team can help. It is possible to live an independent and fulfilling life with diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
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In 2019, almost four million people in the United Kingdom were known to have diabetes, while the charity Diabetes UK estimates that a further one million people are living with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how food is turned into energy in the body. There are two types of diabetes, Type 2 being most common. This is when the body has become resistant to insulin or the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin. The most common cause of Type 2 diabetes is through poor nutrition and/or inactivity which can also lead to becoming overweight.
Type 1 diabetes, the least common of the two types, requires closer care and management. This is when the immune system attacks the pancreas’ insulin-producing cells, and this results in the body’s blood glucose levels becoming too high because it cannot naturally produce insulin. Those with Type 1 diabetes must take insulin to manage the condition, which may be taken by pen, pump or syringe.