More than Just Lines on a Map: Best Practices for U.S Bike Routes
What is diabetes
2. Over 2.9 million people have diabetes in the
UK (Source: Diabetes UK).
Diabetes is where the glucose in your blood is
too high and your body can’t use it properly .
This is because you do not have enough (or
any) insulin to move glucose into your cells
where it is needed.
There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and
type 2.
3. Type 1 diabetes means your body does not
produce any insulin.
The cells which produce insulin in your body
have been destroyed. Doctors are still unsure
as to why this happens.
Type 1 diabetes can be found in 5-15% of all
diabetes suffers and is managed through a
healthy diet, exercise and daily insulin
injections.
4. Type 2 diabetes is found in 85- 95% of
diabetes sufferers.
It is when the body produces a small amount
of insulin which is not enough for your
body, or when the insulin doesn’t work
properly.
This type of diabetes is treated with a healthy
diet and increased physical activity. Often
medication or insulin is also required.
It is becoming increasingly common with
children, adolescents and young people.
5. Some of the symptoms of diabetes are:
Tiredness
Blurred Vision
Thirst
Needing the toilet more often than normal
Recurring infections
Slow healing wounds
If you have any of these symptoms, we would
advise you to take a test for diabetes and visit your
GP
6. You can’t have sugar – FALSE
◦ You can have sugar, you just have to balance how
much you have
You can only eat ‘diabetic’ foods– FALSE
◦ Again, balance is the key
Diabetes sufferers all go blind– FALSE
◦ Although it is true some diabetes sufferers go
blind, you can reduce your risk by keeping healthy
People with diabetes can’t play sport- FALSE
◦ Sufferers are encouraged to keep active to reduce
your risk of heart disease or other complications