You don't have to be obese to have diabetes
The stereotype of a person with type 2 diabetes is someone who is overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle and eating an unhealthy diet. There is certainly a strong link between diabetes and obesity, but 20% of people with type 2 diabetes are regarded as leading healthy lifestyles.
In fact, there are many people with diabetes who haven't been diagnosed due to not realising that they are at risk. People who appear to be totally healthy may actually have internal ('visceral') fat around their vital organs, which increases the likelihood of developing diabetes.
Currently, the NHS spend 3.5 billion on treating diabetes every year. The number of people with diabetes is expected to double over the next 10 years, which means the cost for the health service will spiral even further. Globally, there are already more than 350 million people with the condition. Whilst 10% of those cases are type 1 diabetes, where lifestyle isn't a factor, the remaining 90% are type 2, where things like diet play an important role. There will be 4 million diagnosed cases of diabetes in Britain by 2025, according to the charity Diabetes UK.
Many people who don't consider themselves as being at risk of diabetes don't realise that symptoms such as increased thirst, fatigue and frequent urination could be indicators of the condition. The condition can remain hidden for years until the pancreas is no longer able to produce enough insulin, or in some cases not able to produce any at all. Rising glucose levels will then affect circulation, and the chance of heart attacks, strokes, blindness and amputation increase.
Warnings about diabetes have primarily been targeted at those who are overweight, and some experts believe this has led to the rest of the population being excessively complacent about the disease. There are also concerns that, as the condition has become more common, it has become increasingly normalised, and not something that people worry about.
In fact, there are many people with diabetes who haven't been diagnosed due to not realising that they are at risk. People who appear to be totally healthy may actually have internal ('visceral') fat around their vital organs, which increases the likelihood of developing diabetes.
Currently, the NHS spend 3.5 billion on treating diabetes every year. The number of people with diabetes is expected to double over the next 10 years, which means the cost for the health service will spiral even further. Globally, there are already more than 350 million people with the condition. Whilst 10% of those cases are type 1 diabetes, where lifestyle isn't a factor, the remaining 90% are type 2, where things like diet play an important role. There will be 4 million diagnosed cases of diabetes in Britain by 2025, according to the charity Diabetes UK.
Many people who don't consider themselves as being at risk of diabetes don't realise that symptoms such as increased thirst, fatigue and frequent urination could be indicators of the condition. The condition can remain hidden for years until the pancreas is no longer able to produce enough insulin, or in some cases not able to produce any at all. Rising glucose levels will then affect circulation, and the chance of heart attacks, strokes, blindness and amputation increase.
Warnings about diabetes have primarily been targeted at those who are overweight, and some experts believe this has led to the rest of the population being excessively complacent about the disease. There are also concerns that, as the condition has become more common, it has become increasingly normalised, and not something that people worry about.
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