Preventing and living well with diabetes in Norfolk and Waveney.
This webpage provides information on diabetes, how to live well to prevent or to manage diabetes and the support available in Norfolk and Waveney to help you
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. There are 2 main types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2.
What is type 1 diabetes?
- Type 1 diabetes is not linked with age or being overweight. The causes are unknown and it is unpreventable. Only 10% of people with diabetes have Type 1.
- Type 1 diabetes is a serious lifelong condition where your blood glucose (sugar) level is too high because your body can’t make a hormone called insulin.
- This happens because your body attacks the cells in your pancreas that make the insulin, meaning you can’t produce any at all.
- We all need insulin to live. It does an essential job. It allows the glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies.
- When you have type 1 diabetes, your body still breaks down the carbohydrate from food and drink and turns it into glucose. But when the glucose enters your bloodstream, there’s no insulin to allow it into your body’s cells. More and more glucose then builds up in your bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar levels
- People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes require regular insulin injections for the rest of their life.
What are the symptoms of type 1 diabetes?
Although the majority of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed as children or as young adults, the symptoms are similar at any age. But adults with type 1 diabetes may not recognise diabetes symptoms as quickly as we might spot them in children, which could mean a delay in getting diagnosed and the right treatment. If you spot any of these signs, see a doctor for a test immediately:
- Toilet – Going to the toilet a lot to pass urine more than usual and particularly at night
- Thirsty – Being really thirsty and not being able to quench your thirst.
- Tired – Feeling more tired than usual
- Thinner – Losing weight without trying or looking thinner than usual
What about children and diabetes?
Most children affected by diabetes have type 1, however, the number of children and young adults affected by type 2 diabetes is rising. The most common symptoms of diabetes in Children are:
- Toilet – Going to the toilet a lot to pass urine, bed wetting by a previously dry child or heavier nappies in babies. Getting up in the might to go to the toilet
- Thirsty – Being really thirsty and not being able to quench the thirst. Your child may ask for a drink more often, finish drinks very quickly or you may notice they generally drink more
- Tired – Feeling more tired than usual. Having less energy than normal, not playing as often, less energy for sports
- Thinner – Losing weight or looking thinner than usual
- The symptoms of type 1 diabetes tend to come on within a matter of days or weeks and you should get urgent medical help if you notice any of these symptoms.
- The symptoms of type 2 diabetes in children are the same as they are for type 1 diabetes, but they may be less obvious and develop more slowly – over weeks or months.
What is type 2 diabetes?
- Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1. In the UK, over 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.
- It is linked to lifestyle factors and develops over time. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, it is largely preventable
- Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition where the insulin your pancreas makes can’t work properly, or your pancreas can’t make enough insulin. This means your blood glucose (sugar) levels keep rising
- We all need insulin to live. It does an essential job. It allows the glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies
- When you have type 2 diabetes, your body still breaks down carbohydrate from your food and drink and turns it into glucose. The pancreas then responds to this by releasing insulin. But because this insulin can’t work properly, your blood sugar levels keep rising. This means more insulin is released
- For some people with type 2 diabetes this can eventually tire the pancreas out, meaning their body makes less and less insulin. This can lead to even higher blood sugar levels and mean you are at risk of hyperglycaemia
- Type 2 diabetes can get worse over time and people living with type 2 diabetes often need medicine, usually in the form of tablets or injections.
What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
- Your age – The older you are, the greater your risk is likely to be. However, those from the ethnic groups outlined below tend to be at risk at a younger age.
- Your family history – You’re two to six times more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you have a parent, brother, sister or child with type 2 diabetes.
- Your ethnicity – You’re more likely to get type 2 diabetes if you’re over 25 and from a Chinese, South Asian, Black Caribbean or Black African ethnic background.
- Your weight – You’re more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you carry excess weight or have obesity.
- Your blood pressure – You’re more at risk if you’ve ever had high blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?
A lot of people don’t get any symptoms when it comes to type 2 diabetes, or don’t notice them. But you may notice:
- Toilet – Going to the toilet a lot to pass urine more than usual and particularly at night
- Thirsty – Being really thirsty and not being able to quench your thirst.
- Tired – Feeling more tired than usual
- Thinner – Losing weight without trying or looking thinner than usual
- Cuts or wounds – Taking longer to heal than usual
- Itching – Around your genitals
- Blurred vision
- Increased hunger
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. It affects women who haven’t been affected by diabetes before, and it usually goes away after giving birth. It means you have high blood sugar and need to take extra care of yourself (eating well and keeping active) for you and your baby.
Are there other types of diabetes?
About 2% of people have other types of diabetes. These include different types of monogenic diabetes, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, and diabetes caused by rare syndromes. Certain medications such as steroids and antipsychotics could lead to other types of diabetes, as well as surgery or hormonal imbalances. Unfortunately, many of these people are misdiagnosed leading to delays in getting the right treatment.
What is prediabetes?
Many people have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is known as prediabetes or non-diabetic hyperglycaemia. People with prediabetes are at greater risk of type 2 diabetes.
Why is managing my diabetes important?
- Diabetes is a serious condition, if left untreated and poorly managed, it can lead to life changing complications.
- Adopting a healthy lifestyle and staying in control of your diabetes can help you avoid complications such as vision loss, kidney failure, amputation, heart disease and strokes.
What can I do to reduce my risk of type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable, changes to lifestyle behaviours can reduce risk. More information is provided in the Prevention section.
What can I do to reduce the risk of the complications caused by my diabetes?
By leading a healthy lifestyle and keeping your blood sugar levels under control.