Barely a day goes by without diabetes making headlines. In fact, Type 2 is currently the fastest growing chronic condition in the UK, with one new case being diagnosed every three minutes.
By 2025, it’s estimated a whopping 5 million people in the UK will be living with the condition – so why aren’t we worried? If you don’t want to be another statistic, read on…
The two types explained
Diabetes is a condition where the glucose levels in your blood are too high, because the body can’t use it properly. There are two main types…
Diabetes UK clinical advisor Margaret Stubbs explains, "Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin to help the body process the glucose. About 10% of people with diabetes have this, usually affecting children or young adults. It’s not connected to lifestyle or being overweight." It’s managed with daily insulin injections, a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
Type 2 affects the remaining 85-90% of people with diabetes. In this case, not enough insulin is produced, or the insulin that is being produced doesn’t work properly. This condition starts gradually, usually later in life, and is sometimes brought on by an unhealthy lifestyle.
80% of Type 2 diabetes cases can be delayed or prevented
So you know what’s coming… It’s time to ditch the sweet and fat stuff! While some cases of diabetes are hereditary, many are caused by diet, with obesity being a major risk factor. Adopting a low calorie diet with minimal sugar, fat and processed food is sometimes enough to reverse a diabetes diagnoses – or ward off a future one.
"We live in an environment that is absurdly full of calories and our bodies are simply not adapted to it," says diabetes expert Dr David Cavan. "From a biological perspective, Type 2 diabetes is a result of modern day lifestyles and
is essentially reversible."
Researchers at the University of Newcastle recently found some Type 2 diabetes could be cured by an extreme 600-calorie-a-day diet to reduce body fat. Likewise, a new study supported by Diabetes UK is comparing the long-term health effects of the current Type 2 diabetes care with that of a low-calorie diet followed by long-term weight management.
A breakthrough pill to cure diabetes?
Recent headlines have suggested that taking a daily probiotic pill could cure both Type 1 and Type 2 by shifting the control of glucose levels from the pancreas to the upper intestine, essentially rewiring the way the body controls glucose.
A US study on diabetic rats showed the ones that were given a probiotic had 30% lower blood glucose levels than the ones that weren’t.
Dr Kem Ezeilo, a GP and life coach, explains: "Taking a daily probiotic supplement has an enormous amount of health benefits – they have anti-inflammatory activities, enable the breakdown of your food and help you fight against bad/harmful bacteria.
"But I also think there’s a place for probiotics in helping the body fight diabetes, although it’s also vitally important you eat lots of fibre daily, which is what probiotics feed on, such as green vegetables and flaxseed."
Alasdair Rankin, Diabetes UK's Director of Research, is quick to stress that much more research is still to be done on the effects of the daily probiotic pill.
He said: "While we know that bacteria in our bodies play an important role in our health – including conditions such as diabetes – we are still learning more and do not have any evidence that probiotics could benefit people with diabetes, let alone cure their condition.
"What we do know is that the best way to manage diabetes is to take existing medications, as prescribed by your doctor, and to maintain a healthy weight by following a healthy balanced diet and taking regular exercise."
Try Bio-Kult Advanced Probiotic Multi-strain Formula, £9.49, Boots .
The serious complications
If not managed correctly, diabetes can lead to blindness, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke and lower limb amputation (high blood sugar levels can damage your nerves and blood vessels, particularly those in your feet).
People with diabetes are 126% more likely to suffer from heart failure, because of something known as metabolic syndrome.
Dr Kem explains, "Metabolic syndrome is a group of factors that increases a person’s risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. You’re more likely to be at risk from it if you have one or more of the following: excess belly fat, high blood pressure, low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, high levels of “bad fats” (triglycerides) and raised blood sugar."
The good news is, losing just 5% of your body weight can help reduce your chance of developing these types
of complications.
The tape measure test
Carrying excess fat around your middle is one of the biggest risk factors of developing Type 2 diabetes.
"There is evidence to suggest women with a waist circumference of more than 88cm (35in) have a much higher risk of developing diabetes," says Dr Aftab Ahmad, diabetes consultant at Pall Mall Medical.
Measure your waist across your belly button, not under it, to check your risk. "Reducing this circumference can help prevent the development of diabetes and, if you’ve already developed it, you’ll find it easier to control by losing weight," adds Dr Ahmad.
Case study
Pamela Armstrong, 48, from Merseyside, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes nearly eight years ago. And by making small changes to her lifestyle – eating a healthier diet and exercising – she’s improved her quality of life…
"When I first found out I had diabetes, I was in denial about the seriousness of my condition. And because of that I wasn’t really in control of it. However, last year, I decided it was time I changed that.
"After six months of losing weight and getting fit through swimming, walking and going to the gym, my diabetes is now being maintained and my medication has been reduced. I still have a long way to go, but I feel these small changes have definitely been beneficial."
For more information and diabetes support go to Diabetes.co.uk.