jaffcat
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Is It “Diabetes”
Q: What is “Diabetes”
A: Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to process the foods (glucose/sugars) that we eat. Insulin is produced by the body in the pancreas. Diabetics either don’t produce enough insulin, or can’t use the insulin that is produced effectively. It is the insulin that is needed to process the foods to give us energy. Slowly sugar/glucose levels rise within the body if left untreated
Q: What does “Type 1” and “Type 2” mean
A: Type 1 diabetes, is often called Insulin dependent diabetes or Juvenile diabetes, because it is more often found in younger people. Although it is still not fully understood, we do know that it is the body’s own immune system that targets the cells that produce insulin. These people will need to take insulin (injections) daily to supplement what little is made by the body itself.
Type 2 diabetes is called Non Insulin Dependent diabetes or late onset diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, although with the average person’s weight increasing this is now not totally true, with a greater number of younger people getting the condition. These people will normally still produce insulin, but they are unable to process it effectively, they are often treated with diet conditions or tablets
Q: How do I know if it’s diabetes
A: The main early signs of diabetes are, increased thirst, increased urination (both of these are the body’s way of trying to expel excess sugars/glucose in the body) and increased hunger (although the body has the energy within it, it cannot absorb the energy to function)
Q: Is having diabetes serious
A: Whilst having diabetes is life changing, it should not stop most people acting normally. They just need to think a little more about their health and diet. I know of Fire-fighters that are diabetic! Longer term having the condition can lead to problems with circulation, eye sight etc
Q: What is a diabetic emergency
A: Generally diabetics become experts with their own condition, knowing how to adjust their foods and insulin levels. However from time to time they will have a problem. The most common emergency is called being “Hypoglycaemic” This means that the glucose levels in the blood have fallen to a dangerously low level, this could be due to having taken too much insulin or due to illness/injury/exercise, where the body uses more sugars/glucose. These patients can become unresponsive very quickly and are then unable to help themselves. It is also possible for a poorly controlled patient to have very high levels of sugars/glucose within the blood. This could be due to not taking enough insulin or eating the wrong types of food over a period of time. These patients are called “Hyperglycaemic”
Q: How can I help in an emergency
A: If somebody becomes unwell, acting strangely and you know that the person is diabetic it is most likely that there sugar/glucose levels have dropped very low. Help them to take in some sugars, Mars bar, Lucozade etc. If they loose consciousness then call 999 immediately. On rare occasions a diabetics sugar/glucose levels can go too high. These patients will often smell sweet, especially the breath. Often described as having acetone or pear drop breath. This is the body’s way of trying to expel the excess sugar/glucose. If in doubt give the sugars, a small increase to somebody with low levels will help greatly. Giving sugars to somebody whose levels are already high will do little damage
Diabetes UK, UK Diabetes Resource, Diabetes Symptoms, Diabetes Diet, Gestational Diabetes
Q: What is “Diabetes”
A: Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to process the foods (glucose/sugars) that we eat. Insulin is produced by the body in the pancreas. Diabetics either don’t produce enough insulin, or can’t use the insulin that is produced effectively. It is the insulin that is needed to process the foods to give us energy. Slowly sugar/glucose levels rise within the body if left untreated
Q: What does “Type 1” and “Type 2” mean
A: Type 1 diabetes, is often called Insulin dependent diabetes or Juvenile diabetes, because it is more often found in younger people. Although it is still not fully understood, we do know that it is the body’s own immune system that targets the cells that produce insulin. These people will need to take insulin (injections) daily to supplement what little is made by the body itself.
Type 2 diabetes is called Non Insulin Dependent diabetes or late onset diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, although with the average person’s weight increasing this is now not totally true, with a greater number of younger people getting the condition. These people will normally still produce insulin, but they are unable to process it effectively, they are often treated with diet conditions or tablets
Q: How do I know if it’s diabetes
A: The main early signs of diabetes are, increased thirst, increased urination (both of these are the body’s way of trying to expel excess sugars/glucose in the body) and increased hunger (although the body has the energy within it, it cannot absorb the energy to function)
Q: Is having diabetes serious
A: Whilst having diabetes is life changing, it should not stop most people acting normally. They just need to think a little more about their health and diet. I know of Fire-fighters that are diabetic! Longer term having the condition can lead to problems with circulation, eye sight etc
Q: What is a diabetic emergency
A: Generally diabetics become experts with their own condition, knowing how to adjust their foods and insulin levels. However from time to time they will have a problem. The most common emergency is called being “Hypoglycaemic” This means that the glucose levels in the blood have fallen to a dangerously low level, this could be due to having taken too much insulin or due to illness/injury/exercise, where the body uses more sugars/glucose. These patients can become unresponsive very quickly and are then unable to help themselves. It is also possible for a poorly controlled patient to have very high levels of sugars/glucose within the blood. This could be due to not taking enough insulin or eating the wrong types of food over a period of time. These patients are called “Hyperglycaemic”
Q: How can I help in an emergency
A: If somebody becomes unwell, acting strangely and you know that the person is diabetic it is most likely that there sugar/glucose levels have dropped very low. Help them to take in some sugars, Mars bar, Lucozade etc. If they loose consciousness then call 999 immediately. On rare occasions a diabetics sugar/glucose levels can go too high. These patients will often smell sweet, especially the breath. Often described as having acetone or pear drop breath. This is the body’s way of trying to expel the excess sugar/glucose. If in doubt give the sugars, a small increase to somebody with low levels will help greatly. Giving sugars to somebody whose levels are already high will do little damage
Diabetes UK, UK Diabetes Resource, Diabetes Symptoms, Diabetes Diet, Gestational Diabetes
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