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Frequently asked questions
This is where we get your questions answered by a diabetes expert from one of the finest institutions in the world, Guy's King's and St Thomas' Schools of Medicine. If you have any more questions you would like answered, please post them in the forum. What are the different types of Diabetes? How many people are affected by the different types of Diabetes? What are the warning signs I should look out for? Does Diabetes run in families? Can Diabetes occur in younger people? What is being done to find a cure or prevention? What should I do if I feel overwhelmed by my diagnosis? What are clinical drug trials? How do I handle my feeling of anger, loneliness and depression? Why should I join a support group?
Normally the body strictly controls the level of sugar in the blood. Most of the food we eat is broken down into sugar (glucose) and then used by the body. In diabetes the body can no longer regulate the level of sugar in the blood and can not use the glucose properly. Click here for more information.
What are the different types of Diabetes? There are three main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results when the body's system for fighting infection (the immune system) turns against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. Someone with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin daily to live. Type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5 to 10 percent of diagnosed diabetes in England & the United States. Type 1 diabetes develops most often in children and young adults, but the disorder can appear at any age. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although beta cell destruction can begin years earlier.
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have this type. This form of diabetes usually develops in adults age 40 and older and is most common in adults over age 55. It is, however, becoming increasing common in younger populations. It is most common among African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, people with weight problems and people with a family history of diabetes.
When type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the pancreas is usually producing enough The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. They are not as sudden in onset as in type 1 diabetes. Some people have no symptoms. Symptoms may include fatigue or nausea, frequent urination, unusual thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores.
For
type 1 diabetes, scientists do not know exactly
what causes the body's immune system to attack the beta cells, but they
believe that both genetic factors and environmental factors, possibly
viruses, are involved. In type 2 diabetes,
although the exact cause is unknown, there is a prominent link with obesity
(being overweight). About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are
overweight. Type 2 diabetes is often part of
How many people are affected by the different types of Diabetes? In the UK the risk of developing type 1 diabetes by the time you are 20 is 3-4/1000 people. Around 5% of middle-aged and older populations are affected by type 2 diabetes. Diabetes and its complications overall account for more than 10% of the gross NHS budget.
What are the warning signs I should look out for?
1. Chest pain 2. Leg pain 3. Changes in vision 4. Raging thirst 5. Frequent urination 6. Foot ulcers 7. Weight loss 8. Tiredness
Click here for an throughout explanation
Too
much sugar in the blood for a long time causes diabetes problems. Over time,
this
Does Diabetes run in families?
Can Diabetes occur in younger people? The peak age for type 1 diabetes is around 14 years old, although it can occur later in life, even up to the mid 30s. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults age 40 and older and is most common in adults over age 55. However, as more and more children become overweight it is becoming increasingly common in the younger populations.
The
best form of treatment is prevention! If this is not possible then we try to
make the
What is being done to find a cure or prevention?
Evidence that intensive management of blood glucose reduces and may prevent development of diabetes complications.
The development of a quick-acting insulin analog.
What should I do if I feel overwhelmed by my diagnosis? This is a perfectly natural feeling and it should be discussed with people who you feel comfortable with, including your family, friends, and GP/nurse. For more information please see my section on coping with diabetes.
What are clinical drug trials?
How do I handle my feeling of anger, loneliness and depression? Some people experience a range of emotions when they are told they have diabetes. Again this is a perfectly natural experience and it should be discussed with people who you feel comfortable with. For more information please see my section on coping with diabetes.
Why should I join a support group? Diabetes creates many challenges in your daily life, and a support group allows you to hear how others have coped or are coping with similar situations. Support groups are safe places to talk openly about difficult issues and feelings. And you may find that other group members will become a great source of comfort and encouragement. To find a support group near you, get in contact with you local GP or your community nurse, where you will be able to get more information. Share your experiences in the forum.
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This site was last updated 04/14/02
Symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight
loss, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue. If not diagnosed and treated with
insulin, a person can lapse into a life-threatening diabetic coma, also
known as
insulin, but, for unknown reasons, the body cannot use the insulin
effectively (a condition called insulin resistance). After several years,
insulin production decreases. The result is the same as for type 1
diabetes--glucose builds up in the blood and the body cannot make efficient
use of its main source of fuel. 
Gestational diabetes develops only during
pregnancy. Like type 2 diabetes, it occurs more often in African Americans,
American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and people with a family history of
diabetes. Though it usually disappears after delivery, the mother is at
increased risk of getting type 2 diabetes later in life. 
a metabolic syndrome that
includes obesity, elevated blood pressure, and high levels of blood lipids.
Unfortunately, as more children become overweight, type 2 diabetes is
becoming more common in young people.
results in damage to blood vessels leading to heart disease, stroke,
blindness, kidney failure, impotence, circulatory problems and nerve damage.
The disease can also complicate pregnancy and increase the risk of birth
defects. Diabetes problems can be scary, but there is a lot you can do to
prevent them or slow them down. See the 
There
is very strong evidence that type 2 diabetes runs in families (genetic
link). This evidence has been obtained from studies in twins and families.
There is some family links in type 1 diabetes but this evidence is not as
strong.
body behave as it would in health, by stabilising the blood sugar.
The ways in which we do this are discussed further in the
Diabetes is recognised as a very important condition for its global impact
and as a consequence, much scientific research is being conducted to make
advances in this condition. In recent years, advances in diabetes research
have led to better ways to manage diabetes and treat its complications.
Major advances include:
New
drugs are constantly being developed to help us to control diabetes and its
complications more efficiently. When these drugs have been developed then
need to be tested for their effectiveness and safety. Patients are then
asked if they would like to join a trial where these drugs are tested;
during this time the patients are closely monitored and the benefits weighed
alongside the side effects. These trials take place many years before drugs
are released in order to assess their safety thus you have access to the
latest medications. If you are interested in taking part in these trials, or
would like more information, ask your hospital specialist for advice.