There are currently more than 2.5million people with diabetes in the UK, and more than half-a-million additional sufferers who are unaware they have the condition.
With Diabetes Awareness Week approaching (June 14-20), now is the ideal time to highlight the signs and symptoms of the illness, which has two main types – Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be treated very successfully.
Type 1 diabetes is the less common of the two types and accounts for 5-15% of all people with diabetes.
This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40 and cannot be prevented, and could preclude most people from working offshore. Even if, after being carefully assessed by a doctor they were allowed to work offshore, restrictions usually apply.
In most cases, Type 2 diabetes is linked with being overweight. It usually occurs in people over the age of 40. However, recently, more children are being diagnosed with the condition, some as young as seven.
Type 2 diabetes, which we will focus on in this article, accounts for up to 95% of all sufferers. It does not necessarily pose such a problem for offshore workers as long as it is well controlled.
The main signs and symptoms of diabetes are:
Increased thirst.
Urinating more frequently – especially at night.
Extreme tiredness.
Weight loss.
Blurred vision.
Genital itching or regular episodes of thrush.
Slow healing of wounds.
In people with Type 2 diabetes, the signs and symptoms might not be obvious and, if you are older, you may put the symptoms down to “getting on a bit.” Taking early action is key, so if any of the symptoms apply to you, ask your GP for a diabetes test.
The symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated. Early treatment and good symptom control will also reduce the chances of developing serious health problems in the future, such as eye, kidney, artery or heart disease.
The main risk factors include:
If someone in your immediate family already has Type 2 diabetes.
You are overweight, or if your waist is 31.5in or over for women; 35in or over for Asian men, and 37in or over for white and black men.
You have high blood pressure or you have had a heart attack or a stroke.
You have been told you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia.
If you are a woman and have had diabetes while pregnant.
The more risk factors that apply to you the greater your risk of having diabetes.
Being diagnosed with diabetes means that looking after your health is even more important.
The main aim of treatment of both types of diabetes is to achieve blood-glucose, blood-pressure and cholesterol levels as near to normal as possible in order to alleviate the symptoms and protect you from the secondary complications associated with diabetes. People with diabetes have an up to fivefold increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those without diabetes.
Kidney disease can happen to anyone, but it is much more common in people with diabetes and people with high blood pressure.
In particular, if you work offshore, it is vital to manage diabetes well; otherwise, you may be at risk of your medical certification being restricted, as well as more ill-health and time off work.
You may require tablets and/or insulin to help treat your diabetes, but healthy eating and regular activity are essential components of successful treatment, as well as promoting weight loss (if you are overweight), optimum health and wellbeing.
Toby Donnelly has 13 years’ experience as a dietitian, including clinical and community work all over the UK. For more information, visit www.abermed.com