Diabetes: An Introduction

By: Syed Hassan (Maqbool) Public Speaker

Agenda

• What is Diabetes?

• What Diabetes UK does?

• How you can get involved?

What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes is a common life-long condition

• The amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood becomes too high because the body cannot use it properly

The Pancreas

Main Types of Diabetes

• Type 1: – Normally diagnosed under 40 years old

– Treated with Insulin, diet control and physical activity

• Type 2: – Normally diagnosed over 40 years old

– Treated with diet control and physical activity

– Tablets and/or Insulin may also be prescribed

Facts and Figures

• 3 million people diagnosed in the UK

• 850,000 undiagnosed people

• £9 billion spent by NHS annually on treating Diabetes and its complications

Diabetes UK figures 2012

Type 1 Diabetes Facts

• Body cannot produce Insulin

• Cells producing Insulin get damaged

• Cause is under medical research

• Possible cause is body’s abnormal reaction

• Maybe triggered by a viral or other infection

• You are more at risk if it runs in your family

Type 2 Diabetes Facts

• When body cannot produce enough Insulin

• Insulin already produced by body cannot work properly

• Cells producing Insulin get damaged

• You are more at risk if it runs in your family

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors

• Caucasian/White: over 40 years of age

• Black and South Asian: over 25 years of age

• Family history of Diabetes

• Obese or overweight

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Blood circulation problems in extremities

• High blood pressure

Symptoms of Diabetes

• Feeling very thirsty

• Going to the toilet very frequently (esp. night)

• Feeling very tired

• Weight loss

• Loss of body muscle

• Blurred vision

If Diabetes is Left Untreated?

Why Awareness is Important?

• Early diagnosis and control of blood glucose level can reduce complications

• Diabetes UK help is at hand…

What Diabetes UK does?

• Reduce the spread of Diabetes on society using available methods

• Connect with, care for and improve the lives of people affected by Diabetes

• Create a better positive future for the Diabetic patients

• Campaign for all people affected by and at risk of Diabetes

• Work towards the cure of Diabetes

More about Diabetes UK?

• Largest patient organisation in the UK

• Largest charity fund provider to Diabetes research:

– More than £5.8m in 2012

– More than £6m in 2011

• Improving lives for more than seventy five years

• National and eight regional offices

How Diabetes UK Helps?

• Information - Publications, Web site, Care Line

Telephone: 0345 123 2399 (Local Rate Call)

• Support - Children's holidays, Family weekends, Peer

support service and Voluntary groups

• Research - Funds research towards finding better

treatments and ultimately its cure

• Campaigning - For better services of care, To help

prevent discrimination by Diabetes Voices

Current Diabetes UK Campaigns

More Campaigns for Better Care

How You can Get Involved?

• Become Supporting Member – Flexible and comes with bi-monthly magazine and access to information and services

• Join Diabetes Voices:

‒ Lots of different ways to make a difference ‒ Quick and easy online actions and

campaigning to improve services in your area ‒ Opportunities available for Diabetes Voices

members to receive training and support

Membership and Benefits

Thank You

• Diabetes UK Care Line:

– 0345 123 2399 (Local Rate Call)

• Web Site:

– www.diabetes.org.uk

• Regional Office:

– midlands@diabetes.org.uk

– Tel: 01922 614500