Diabetes

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Understanding DiabetesWhat is Diabetes?Diabetes is common a� ecting 1-2% of the population. Diabetes interferes with the body’s sensitivity to insulin. The level of glucose (blood sugar) is controlled by the pancreas. Cells in the pancreas respond to glucose entering the blood stream by secreting insulin, a hormone whose main function is to regulate body glucose. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, glucose levels will rise and spill over into the urine. Typical symptoms of diabetes would be an excessive thirst and frequent urination.

There are two common types of diabetes:

Type I Diabetes also known as juvenile onset or insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus.

This type of diabetes a� ects between 5 and 15% of people with condition. It develops suddenly and usually before the age of 40.

It is thought to be associated with a virus which leads to the cells of the pancreas being destroyed by the immune system. There will be a severe or total reduction of insulin and the person with type 1 diabetes will need daily injections of insulin to control the disease.

Type II Diabetes also known as maturity or late-onset diabetes

This type of diabetes a� ects 85 - 95% of people with the condition and 75% of those are overweight. It usually develops slowly and mostly after the age of 40 but can appear as young as 25.

In Type II diabetes the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin produced is not used so well (insulin resistance). It is not known what causes Type II diabetes but the risks in developing the condition are if:

• You have a close family member, sister, brother, mother, father with Type II diabetes

• You are overweight and have a large waist over 31.5 inches for women and 37 inches for black and Caucasian men and 35 inches for Asian men

• You have high blood pressure, a heart attack or stroke

• You are a woman with polycystic ovaries and overweight

• You’ve been told you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia.

• You’re a woman and you’ve had gestational diabetes.

• You have severe mental health problems

Nexus Community is a division of Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). GLL is an employee-owned charitable social enterprise that exists for the benefi t of the community and is a non-profi t distributing organisation.

We are proud to work with and provide services on behalf of:

We operate an equal opportunities policy


Understanding DiabetesLong term complications of poorly controlled diabetes

Eyes The retina (the seeing part of the eye) may become blocked, leaky or grow abnormal blood vessels which will stop the light through the eye and if left untreated may damage the eye

Cardio vascular disease the blood vessels that supply the heart, brain and legs with blood may become narrowed (atherosclerosis). People with Type II diabetes may also have elevated LDLs (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides which increase the risk of atherosclerosis

Kidney the kidneys have to work hard to get rid of the excess glucose. Diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the kidneys so they work less e� ectively. This may lead to the kidneys not working so e� ciently so the waste products that they expel remain in the body.

Nerves Neuropathy is a long term complication of diabetes. How it occurs is not really understood but it is thought that continual high blood sugars damage the blood vessels that supply the nerves with oxygen and vital nutrients. The nerves become damaged so feeling is lost. It may aff ect the skin, muscles, stomach and intestines, bladder, penis, blood vessels sweat glands, hands and feet

What can help people with diabetes?

• Keep active

• Keep your weight down

• Eat healthily – limit sugary / fatty food

• Stop smoking

• Cut down on alcohol

How may exercise and physical activity help people with diabetes?

Physical activity and exercise will help to manage diabetes and help to prevent further complications

Activity will:

• Increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin

• Promote the uptake of glucose from the blood to the muscles

• Lower plasma insulin levels

• Reduce the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Helps to control weight particularly central obesity

• Increase levels of HDL (good cholesterol)

• Reduce the risk of cardio vascular disease




Speak to your diabetic nurse specialist or GP if you are new to exercise and on medication for diabetes.

If you are on certain types of medication (such as sulphonylureas or insulin) it is important that you check your blood sugar levels before and after exercise to see how your blood sugars respond to exercise.

Muscles that are working will use more glucose than those that are resting and exercise also helps the way that your body reacts to insulin This may result in the blood sugars dropping to low resulting in hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Always take a quick acting carbohydrate with you to counteract hypoglycaemia

Good footwear is essential. Diabetes may result in neuropathy (nerve damage) in the feet, aff ecting feeling. If you have badly � tting footwear you may develop blisters that get infected. It is advised that you check your feet before and after exercise.

Keeping hydrated is essential for people with diabetes, so take a bottle of water with you when you exercise

If you have diabetes it is important for your health and well being to keep active, the benefi ts of exercising far out way the risk.

For a personalised programme take the opportunity to chat to a Nexus instructor who will be able to design a programme speci� cally for you.

For further information please don’t hesitate to contact Lesley Simpson Nexus Health Promotion Manager [email protected] or visit www.diabetes.org.uk


Understanding Diabetes




Diabetes

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