Diabetes is a serious condition that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. This affects how the body turns foods into energy.
There are three main types of diabetes; Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes.
According to Diabetes UK, an estimated 5.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes and 1.2 million of those individuals are living with type 2 diabetes which remains undiagnosed. These figures are alarming and show the importance of raising awareness about the symptoms of this serious condition.
What are the symptoms of Diabetes?
Some of the symptoms that can be associated with type 2 diabetes include;
- Excessive thirst or dry mouth
- Frequent urination
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
- Blurred vision
- Unintentional weight loss
- Lack of energy and tiredness
- Slow healing wounds
- Frequent infections
Whilst raising awareness about the associated symptoms is important, it is also equally as important to know that for some people, their symptoms may be mild and they may not experience all of the associated symptoms but only one or two.
As a result, people can often overlook some of the warning signs so it is important that individuals look out for any combination of the warning signs for diabetes and see their doctor as soon as possible if they are concerned about their symptoms. If diabetes is suspected, a blood test that measures the blood glucose (or sugar) levels in the blood can be arranged by a GP to confirm the diagnosis.
Who is most at risk?
Some of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes include;
- Family history of diabetes: You are two to six times more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you have a parent, brother, sister or child with diabetes.
- Poor nutrition and weight: This has been fuelled by the consumption of ultra processed foods which tends to be food of poor dietary quality and people’s sedentary lifestyles
- High blood pressure: Diets high in salt, periods of prolonged stress, smoking and drinking can all contribute to higher blood pressure
- Lack of physical activity: The UK Chief Medical Officers’ Guidelines recommends that individuals do 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes rigorous activity (or a combination of both) every week.
- Ethnicity: people of South Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Hispanic origin as well as some indigenous populations have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Why is prompt diagnosis so important?
A prompt diagnosis is extremely important in ensuring that an individual begins the correct course of treatment to manage their diabetes as best as possible. The earlier diabetes is diagnosed and treated, the better.
If left uncontrolled, the complications associated with diabetes often become worse over time and in some cases can be life threatening. Diabetes can damage the flow of blood around the body and functioning of the nerves. This can lead to a number of associated problems including brain damage, liver damage, loss of vision, heart attacks and kidney failure.
The complications associated with diabetes can be reduced by taking prescribed medication once diagnosed, eating a healthy balanced diet and exercising regularly. People living with diabetes can live their best lives by taking the appropriate steps to manage their condition effectively.
If you believe you, or a loved one, has suffered a delay in diagnosis or treatment of diabetes or any other medical condition and would like to discuss your concerns further, please contact our experienced team of lawyers at Moore Barlow for free initial legal advice.
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