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?
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.
