Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. 347 million people worldwide are assumed to have this disease, making diabetes a global health problem. The United Arab Emirates is ranked as the 2nd highest worldwide for diabetes and study reports suggest that approximately 1 in 5 of the adult population have diabetes.
This section covers all of the basics you need to know about diabetes. Whether you are just looking for general information about what diabetes is, the risk factors or the different types of diabetes – we deal with it all here. Paying special attention to diet and exercise is crucial in fighting against diabetes, so tips on healthy lifestyle changes are included in the Prevention section of this site.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have diabetes, up-to-date details regarding its symptoms and diagnostic tests are available. Diabetes is a lifelong disease that affects nearly all aspects of daily life, including the food you eat and the activities you pursue, so learning that you have diabetes can be upsetting. To help, we have included information about how you can control your blood glucose levels and what treatment options are on offer.
Diabetes (medically known as diabetes mellitus) is a group of diseases characterised by high levels of blood glucose, commonly called blood sugar. Glucose comes from carbohydrates that you eat and is the main source of fuel for your brain and an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. Too much glucose, however, can lead to serious long-term complications like kidney failure, nerve damage and blindness. Left untreated, diabetes also increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy but may resolve after the baby is delivered, is a potentially reversible type of diabetes.
To find experts that can help you learn more about diabetes and how to manage it click here.
Although the exact causes of diabetes are unknown, risk factors for diabetes depend on the specific type of diabetes.
To find experts that can help you learn more about diabetes and how to manage it click here.
Diabetes symptoms vary depending on how much your blood sugar is elevated. In prediabetes or early type 2 diabetes, the symptoms may be so mild that they go unnoticed. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe. Common symptoms of diabetes include:
While type 1 diabetes typically develops during childhood or adolescence, type 2 diabetes can occur at any age and is often preventable.
There are 3 main types of diabetes. These include:
To find experts that can help you learn more about diabetes and how to manage it click here.
In general, most people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed during childhood, whereas type 2 typically develops after age 40. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) ) recommends that all adults over 45 years, of normal weight and with no diabetes risk factors receive an initial blood sugar screening. If the results are normal, screening should occur every 3 years thereafter.
There are several ways to diagnose diabetes, however each method usually needs to be repeated on a second day to diagnose diabetes. The tests used to diagnose diabetes are:
Prediabetes is a condition when your blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes. This condition puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
To find experts that can help you learn more about diabetes and how to manage it click here.
Due to the amount of self-care required, diabetes can place a huge burden on those it affects. Paying special attention to diet and exercise plays a vital part in managing all types of diabetes. Depending on your type of diabetes, you may also need to test your blood glucose levels several times a day, take oral medication or give yourself daily insulin injections. Below are some key treatment options.
To find experts that can help you learn more about diabetes and how to manage it click here.
Unfortunately, type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented. However, simple lifestyle measures are effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes, which is the more common type. To help prevent type 2 diabetes:
To find experts that can help you learn more about diabetes and how to manage it click here.
If an account exists for this email address, you will receive an email from us shortly.
1. Open the email sent to your registered email address.
2. Click the link in the email to reset your password.
P.S. This link will be valid for 24 hours.