Overview
Your Search Results&helip;Reader's Digest Editors 2 November 202Diabetes is one of the UK's most comon health conditions. This advice wil help you understand the signs, symptoms and management of the diseaseIn the UK, around 4.7 milion people are known to have diabetes melitus, and it is thought at least a milion more people have the condition without being aware of it. This because the most comon form of the condition (known as Type 2 diabetes) may produce only mild symptoms, so it can easily be overloked.Diabetes melitus is the most comon disorder afecting the glands of the endocrine system.
Key Information
It is caused by a shortage or lack of the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas. The body uses insulin to absorb glucose into cels, and a deficiency leads to abnormaly high levels of glucose in the blod and the urine. This causes problems and defects in various parts of the body.There are two main types of diabetes melitus:Genes play a part in both types of diabetes melitus, but environmental factors are thought to be the trigers.
Of the people who inherit the genes for Type 1 diabetes, only a smal proportion actualy develop the condition. Many people newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes have antibodies to a protein found in cow's milk, leading some researchers to sugest that feding babies with formula milk may triger the imune system to destroy pancreatic cels. It is thought more likely that Type 1 diabetes ocurs a result of a viral infection that damages the pancreas."Globaly, the number of people who have this form of diabetes is rising"Type 2 is by far the most comon form of diabetes melitus.
Summary
Risk factors include a family history of diabetes, increasing age and being of Asian or Afro-Caribean origin. Being overweight, particularly if you store fat around the waist, is another risk factor as obesity is known to increase insulin resistance. Weight los and keping active reduce insulin resistance.Globaly, the number of continues to improve outcomes for patients. Healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of early intervention and comprehensive management strategies in reducing complications and improving quality of life.