Statistics
• Data compiled by Diabetes UK showed that the number of people diagnosed with Diabetes
has increased from 1.4 million in 1996 to over 4 million in 2017.
• I6% of the population or 1 in 16 people has diabetes. By 2025 this number is forecast to surpass 5 million.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that reduces the body’s ability to produce or react to the insulin hormone.
As a result, sugars build up in the blood which can create a range of different health conditions such as kidney failure, blindness, heart disease and in some cases lower-extremity amputations.
The Symptoms
There are 3 main symptoms of the disease. Often these are ignored by the sufferer and often remains undiagnosed. It is thought that there are 549,000 people in the UK have diabetes that is not diagnosed.
The main symptoms of Diabetes are:
• Increased need to urinate
• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
There are two main types of Diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1: This is when the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin so no insulin is produced and injections of insulin are required.
Type 2: This is when the body is unable to create enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to the insulin produced. Type 2 Diabetes is more common than Type 1 with 90% of UK sufferers having Type 2.
The Differences between Hypo and Hyper
People with Diabetes can manage the condition by:
• balancing medication such as tablets (type 2)
• Ior insulin injections (type 1 and sometimes type 2)
• healthy eating
• exercise regimes
Sometimes, however, the balance can alter causing either a drop in blood glucose to too low a level
causing hypoglycaemia (hypo) or blood glucose rises too sharply causing hyperglycaemia (hyper).
has increased from 1.4 million in 1996 to over 4 million in 2017.
• I6% of the population or 1 in 16 people has diabetes. By 2025 this number is forecast to surpass 5 million.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that reduces the body’s ability to produce or react to the insulin hormone.
As a result, sugars build up in the blood which can create a range of different health conditions such as kidney failure, blindness, heart disease and in some cases lower-extremity amputations.
The Symptoms
There are 3 main symptoms of the disease. Often these are ignored by the sufferer and often remains undiagnosed. It is thought that there are 549,000 people in the UK have diabetes that is not diagnosed.
The main symptoms of Diabetes are:
• Increased need to urinate
• Increased hunger
• Increased thirst
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
There are two main types of Diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1: This is when the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin so no insulin is produced and injections of insulin are required.
Type 2: This is when the body is unable to create enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to the insulin produced. Type 2 Diabetes is more common than Type 1 with 90% of UK sufferers having Type 2.
The Differences between Hypo and Hyper
People with Diabetes can manage the condition by:
• balancing medication such as tablets (type 2)
• Ior insulin injections (type 1 and sometimes type 2)
• healthy eating
• exercise regimes
Sometimes, however, the balance can alter causing either a drop in blood glucose to too low a level
causing hypoglycaemia (hypo) or blood glucose rises too sharply causing hyperglycaemia (hyper).
What to do – Hyperglycaemia
The alternative to Hypo is Hyper this is often caused by missing a dose of medication, eating more carbohydrates than the body needs, stress or over treating following a Hypo. Hyper can be treated by: • drinking plenty of sugar-free fluids • taking extra insulin. • A person who has a very high blood glucose may need emergency care and 999/111/NHS 24 advice should be taken and the care plan followed. Whether the individual has experienced a hypo or a hyper it is important that both the details of what has happened and the actions that have been carried out have been documented and reported to the the office and relevant health care professionals. 
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What to do - Hypoglycaemia
Common symptoms of someone being hypoglycaemic are: • going pale • feeling shaky • sweating • blurred vision • hunger • headaches • overly emotional • tiredness These symptoms may appear when an individual has missed a meal, taken too much medication/insulin, overexerted themselves or are developing an infection. Alcohol can also alter blood glucose levels. If the person is conscious and feels the effects of a hypo they should eat carbohydrates– both fast and slow acting . See below: The following are ideal: • Fast acting: A sugary drink (non-diet), Glucose tablets, sweets, such as jelly babies, pure fruit juice, Glucose gel. • Slow acting: biscuits or a glass of milk • Not advisable: Chocolate and crisps are not advisable as the high-fat content slows the absorption of the sugar. If unconscious the individual will need assistance.
Preventative measures can include:
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Further information resources include:
• Guide to diabetes - Interactions with Healthcare Professionals
• Diabetes Care
• Guide to diabetes - Interactions with Healthcare Professionals
• Diabetes Care
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