Diabetes

Hey there,

My boss has asked me to do an information leaflet on Diabetes and i was just wondering if anyone can think of anything useful to put on it

So far i have this....

Can anyone think of any more info i need to put on?
Also does anyone know of any info about diabetes in children especially.
Thanks
Frances x

p.s it also has fancy bullet points and colours on my word document

Diabetes Mellitus or Diabetes for short is a condition which affects an individuals insulin and glucose production.

If somebody has diabetes, the glucose in their body is not turned into energy, either because there is not enough insulin in their body, or because the insulin that the body produces is not working properly.

This causes the liver to make more glucose than usual but the body still cannot turn the glucose into energy.

The body then breaks down its stores of fat and protein to try to release more glucose but still this glucose cannot be turned into energy.

This is why people with untreated diabetes often feel tired and lose weight.

The unused glucose passes into the urine, which is why people with untreated diabetes pass large amounts of urine and are extremely thirsty.

There are three types of Diabetes,

Type 1- where an individual is dependent on daily insulin injections.

This also means the body does not produce any insulin at all and the diabetes usually becomes diagnosed before the age of 40.

Type 2- where the individual controls their diabetes by tablet form.

This type of diabetic still produce little ammounts of insulin and need to increase this ammount by taking tablets, in other cases of type 2 diabetics the insulin that is produced does not work correctly so tablets have to be taken to avoid this.

Type 3- Where the diabetes is controlled by diet alone.

Usually if avoiding or moderating sweet or high carbohydrate foods the diabetes can be managed efficiently.

All types of diabetes have to be controlled by diet as well as medication in the case of Type 1 and 2 diabetics.

Signs of High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia)

Excessive thirst
Constant hunger even after eating
Needing the toilet a lot.
Acetone Breath

If, not treated (by insulin or medication) it can lead to

Collapsing
Diabetic Coma (Ketoacidosis)- This is life threatening

Signs of Low Blood Sugar (hypoglycemia)
Faintness
Sweating
Pounding heart
If not treated by intake of glucose (high sugar products for example sweets or lucozade) can lead to
collapsing
Diabetic Coma (ketoacidosis)- This is life threatening

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetes.html

you will find all you need there

http://medlineplus.gov/

main page

Thanks fred, i was looking for more of a personal view though, i have drawn a lot of info of the site already
thanks for replying
frances x

Hi Frances,

I am a diabetic, I know exactly what you want but I have trouble writing it down. I hope you don't take this the wrong way but some of what you say isn't quite right.

I will try and make a leaflet for you, you may be able to combine what I say with what others may say.

See you soon.

Ian

I think you have made a mistake regarding the types of diabetes

There are thought to be three types but only two are currently known of affecting most people who are diagnosed with diabetes

Look here for information regarding type 3 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes & develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. It is treated by insulin injections and diet and regular exercise is recommended.


Type 2 diabetes, also known as non insulin dependent diabetes & develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in South Asian and African-Caribbean people often appears after the age of 25. It is treated by diet and exercise alone or by diet, exercise and tablets or by diet, exercise and insulin injections.

Type 3 is as the above link a fairly recent discovery & is not as described in your post

I'm a type 2 diabetic currently controlling it by diet/exercise alone & I have a cousin who is a type 1 diabetic being diagnosed well before he was 40

There is also gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) & this can be an indication that diabetes will develop later in life

I have to read every label on food & if the sugar content isn't clear my dietician advised me to not consider the food

I do eat lots of fresh organic food & slow release carbohydrates as part of my diet & have done for many years as I am a vegan. I also have to watch salt & saturated fat levels-which isn't too hard as I don't add salt & use freshly ground blasck pepper to season my food. I don't eat any saturated fats like butter/margarine & stick to a very low fat diet.

Our GP practice has a yearly diabetic clinic & this coincides with the retinal scans that are now also done. I also have to have a yearly eye sight test & monitor my sugar level daily

It does mean I can no longer fly alone as a pilot & I always have food with me as I should eat every 4 hours whilst I am awake. I also have to drink the 2 litres + water everyday

LOL apart from that it doesn't affect my life at all

Hi Ian

I have recieved all my information from websites online so i am puzzled as to what is wrong (this doesnt mean i am saying what you have know is wrong)

A lot of my family is diabetic and other information- that isnt online has come from them.

I have a feeling you may be reffering to what i have called "type 3" diabetics. I know not everyone refers to this as type three but this is what me and my work collegues have chosen to define it as.

Thanks for your reply, you dont have to make a leaflet, but any info you have for me would be great.

Frances

I'm diabetic too, was diagnosed when I was 9 years old and weighing 2st 10lbs!! My GP told my parents I had a 'normal' childhood illness and I would grow out of it.....NOT!!

Hypo is what you have when your blood sugars are low, unfortunately most of my hypos have happened during the night so I know nothing about them until I come round, this is even after checking my Blood Sugars before bed.

Hyper is when your sugars are high, thankfully I've never had one of those!

Both are very dangerous, I've only had 4 major ones in all hypo's, 2 as a child when I bit through my tongue (ouch) and my parents held me down, so I ended up with a bad back for months. Two since we've been married, both times woke up to find a rather handsome ambulance man sat on the bed with me and me full of drips!!

It was a nightmare being pregnant, had up to 7 injections per day instead of the normal 2, became immune to one insulin during pregnancy, but still had 4 very healthy babies (even if the last was 10lb 5oz)

Every day I do blood tests to check my sugar levels, I have test strips to test my wee too.

To be honest since I was first diagnosed till now, things have improved drastically, yes it's a condition you have to control but it doesn't control you!

Jodee,
Me and you posted at the same time! I also think we must have looked at the same website, altho i put my types into my own words through what my mum (a nurse) my nan (a type one diabetic) my boss (also a nurse) and the website told me.

Thankyou for replying i will ammend my info

Sorry but type three diabetes in not as you describe it & to alter the correct medical definitions is very misleading

I presume you were not aware that there is an actual type 3 diabetes thought to exist & the types 1 & 2 are as I have quoted

Edited to add my definitions are as given to me by my diabetic nurse & specialist & are engraved in my mind lol they are the same as found in diabetes uk information. They are on many websites