Diabetes UK Cymru is urging the public to share facts to increase diabetes awareness Diabetes Week is taking place from 10 to 16 June 2019 and aims to increase the public’s understanding of diabetes. This year, Diabetes UK Cymru is asking people to share five facts to help people see diabetes differently:
- Chances are, lots of people you know are living with diabetes.
In Wales, 194,000 people are living with a diabetes diagnosis. This is the highest prevalence in the UK. There are also almost 60,000 people living with Type 2 diabetes who have yet to be diagnosed. Across the UK, one in 15 people live with diabetes. That’s 4.7 million people in the UK – more than cancer and dementia combined.
- There are different types.
Type 1 and Type 2 are the two main types of diabetes. There are rarer types too. What they all have in common is they raise sugar levels in the blood, which can seriously damage the body. But why they happen and how they’re treated varies.
- Anyone can get diabetes, at any time. It doesn’t discriminate.
Why people get diabetes is complicated. Some things increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, from genetics and ethnic background to gender, age and lifestyle factors. But sometimes it isn’t clear why people get it.
- Diabetes is relentless. It’s day in, day out. It never stops.
It’s not just tablets or injections. It’s so much more than that. Every day involves a thousand little questions, decisions and things to remember. It’s appointments, checks, calculations, what to eat. It’s your care on your shoulders. It’s knowing things won’t always go to plan.
- It might make life harder, but it doesn’t have to change your ambitions.
When you’ve got diabetes, just getting through the day can be a monumental achievement. But it doesn’t mean life stops. People have become professional athletes, topped the charts and ruled the country with diabetes.Dai Williams, National Director, Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “We know diabetes is complicated and hard to understand. Whether it’s living with it, the causes or the various treatments, it’s never simple. It can be hard to talk about it openly and start to tackle it when there’s so much misunderstanding. Living with the condition is tough enough, without having to worry about what other people think, feel or say. “This Diabetes Week we want to help people know more about diabetes, not just as a condition, but about how it feels to live with it.” See diabetes differently. Find out more about what it’s like to live with diabetes and what you need to know, go to
www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetesweek . Notes 1. Diabetes UK’s aim is creating a world where diabetes can do no harm. Diabetes is the most devastating and fastest growing health crisis of our time, affecting more people than any other serious health condition in the UK - more than dementia and cancer combined. There is currently no known cure for any type of diabetes. With the right treatment, knowledge and support people living with diabetes can lead a long, full and healthy life. For more information about diabetes and the charity’s work, visit
www.diabetes.org.uk 2. Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. If not managed well, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss in people of working age in the UK and is a major cause of lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke. 3. People with Type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin. About 8 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 1. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it’s not to do with being overweight and it isn’t currently preventable. It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly. Type 1 diabetes is treated by daily insulin doses – taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. It is also recommended to follow a healthy diet and take regular physical activity. 4. People with Type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly (known as insulin resistance). Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 2. They might get Type 2 diabetes because of their family history, age and ethnic background puts them at increased risk. They are also more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight. It starts gradually, usually later in life, and it can be years before they realise they have it. Type 2 diabetes is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. In addition, tablets and/or insulin can be required. 5. About 2 per cent of people have other types of diabetes. Other types include 11 different forms of monogenic diabetes, cystic fibrosis related diabetes and diabetes caused by rare syndromes. Certain medication such as steroids and antipsychotics, surgery or hormonal imbalances could also lead to other types of diabetes.
