World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day is held by The International Diabetes Federation who are engaged in action to tackle diabetes on a global level. It is believed that many cases on diabetes can be prevented and controlled if people take the right steps to leading a healthier life style. More the 3 million people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes and approximately 850,000 people have diabetes but have yet to be diagnosed. Diabetes is a chronic disease that effects the pancreas. There are two types, Type 1 is caused by the body’s immune system attacking the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is where the pancreas is not producing enough insulin or it is not getting used properly. Where Type 1 diabetes requires the patient to use insulin in order to survive, Type 2 diabetes in a lot of cases can be controlled by diet and exercise alone. However, for those who are unable to do this orally, blood glucose lowering drugs can be used. Type 2 diabetes is believed to double in the next few years due to the effects of lack of exercise and the increase of obesity in the population. A scary thought when the complications of diabetes can be quite severe from blindness, kidney damage and nerve damage to heart and vascular damage which can effect blood flow and circulation. In fact amputations are 50 – 80 times higher in diabetics due to the poor circulation. Although our genes may influence the development of Type 2 diabetes recent health studies suggest that up to 90% of cases can be attributes to five factors such as excess weight, lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet, smoking and alcohol. It is believed that our modern day existence of processed food and sedentary life style is killing us. Making a few lifestyle changes can dramatically lower the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.

• Control your weightExcess weight is the biggest case of Type 2 diabetes. Being overweight increases the chances of developing Type 2 diabetes seven fold.
• Turn off the tellyFor every two hours you spend watching the TV instead of pursuing something little more active you increase your chances of developing diabetes 20 percent. It also increase the risk of heart disease by 15% and early death by 13%.
• Sort out your dietWholegrain and wholegrain products protect against diabetes. Refined carbohydrates lead to diabetes. Two or three servings of wholegrain a day cause a 30% decrease chance of developing diabetes.
• If you smoke, don’tSmokers are 50% more likely to develop diabetes than non-smokers.

The bottom line to avoiding Type 2 diabetes can be boiled down to five words: stay lean and stay active.