Could it Be Diabetes?
Are you worried that you, your child or someone you know may have diabetes? Having some diabetes symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have the condition, but you should always contact your GP, just to make sure
Please click the link if you would like to watch a short video about symptoms of diabetes https://www.youtube.com/embed/bIhy-Rb2xp4
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes? 4Ts
These symptoms may appear over a short time days/weeks
· Toilet – going for a wee more often, especially at night.
· Thirsty – being constantly thirsty and not being able to quench it.
· Tired – being incredibly tired and having no energy.
· Thinner – losing weight without trying to, or looking thinner than usual.
· Genital itching or thrush.
· Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
· Blurred eyesight
· Increased hunger.
Please click the link below for a short video about TYPE 1 DIABETES
What are the signs and symptoms of TYPE 2 Diabetes?
These may develop over a long time months/years
Diabetes symptoms
· Toilet – going for a wee a lot, especially at night.
· Thirsty – being really thirsty.
· Tired – feeling more tired than usual.
· Thinner – losing weight without trying to.
· Genital itching or thrush.
· Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
· Blurred eyesight
· Increased hunger.
Please click the link below for a short video about TYPE 2 DIABETES
https://www.youtube.com/embed/4SZGM_E5cLI”
With a diagnosis of any type of Diabetes You will be invited into the surgery every year for Annual Diabetes Screening which will help to detect and prevent any complications from developing. If attending the surgery is difficult for you please do let us know so we can discuss how to manage the annual screening for you.
What are the major complications of diabetes?
You might hear your healthcare team talk about two types of diabetes complications: serious ones that build up over time called chronic complications and ones that can happen at any time called acute complications.
Chronic complications
These are long-term problems that can develop gradually, and can lead to serious damage if they go unchecked and untreated.
· Eye problems (retinopathy) Some people with diabetes develop an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy which can affect their eyesight. If retinopathy is picked up – usually from an eye screening test – it can be treated and sight loss prevented.
· Foot problems Diabetes foot problems are serious and can lead to amputation if untreated. Nerve damage can affect the feeling in your feet and raised blood sugar can damage the circulation, making it slower for sores and cuts to heal. That’s why it’s important to tell your GP if you notice any change in how your feet look or feel.
· Heart attack and stroke When you have diabetes, high blood sugar for a period of time can damage your blood vessels. This can sometimes lead to heart attacks and strokes.
· Kidney problems (nephropathy) Diabetes can cause damage to your kidneys over a long period of time making it harder to clear extra fluid and waste from your body. This is caused by high blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. It is known as diabetic nephropathy or kidney disease.
· Nerve damage (neuropathy) Some people with diabetes may develop nerve damage caused by complications of high blood sugar levels. This can make it harder for the nerves to carry messages between the brain and every part of our body so it can affect how we see, hear, feel and move.
· Gum disease and other mouth problems Too much sugar in your blood can lead to more sugar in your saliva. This brings bacteria which produces acid which attacks your tooth enamel and damages your gums. The blood vessels in your gums can also become damaged, making gums more likely to get infected.
· Related conditions, like cancer If you have diabetes, you’re more at risk of developing certain cancers. And some cancer treatments can affect your diabetes and make it harder to control your blood sugar.
· Sexual problems in women Damage to blood vessels and nerves can restrict the amount of blood flowing to your sexual organs so you can lose some sensation. If you have high blood sugar, you are also more likely to get thrush or a urinary tract infection.
· Sexual problems in men The amount of blood flowing to your sexual organs can be restricted which may cause you to have difficulty getting aroused. It may lead to erectile dysfunction, sometimes called impotence.
Acute complications
These can happen at any time and may lead to chronic, or long-term, complications.
· Hypos – when your blood sugars are too low
· Hypers– when your blood sugars are too high · Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State (HHS)– a life-threatening emergency that only happens in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s brought on by severe dehydration and very high blood sugars.
· Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – a life-threatening emergency where the lack of insulin and high blood sugars leads to a build-up of ketones.
Useful Links
Diabetes UK https://www.diabetes.org.uk/
Diabetes UK Reversing Type 2 Diabetes Link https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/type-2-reverse
Diabetes UK Podcasts https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/podcasts
