diabetes

WHAT IS DIABETES?• Diabetes is caused by lack

of insulin leading blood sugar levels to become too high.

• It affects nearly 3 million people in the UK.

• PLUS there are about 850,000 people who don’t know they have diabetes.

• Untreated diabetes can kill.Image: Jakob Suckale, Michele Solimena

© Men’s Health Forum 2013 • more health information at menshealthforum.org.uk • your website Your logo

© Men’s Health Forum 2013 • menshealthforum.org.uk • more health info at malehealth.co.uk or mysainsburys.co.uk

• Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas.

• Insulin controls your blood sugar levels.

• When you eat, insulin converts the sugar in the blood from food into energy.

• When you have diabetes, you do not have the insulin to do this.

• This leads to the symptoms of diabetes andcan cause long-term damage if untreated.

WHAT IS INSULIN?


WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?The symptoms of diabetes are: • feeling very thirsty• peeing a lot, especially at night• feeling very tired.Other symptoms include:weight-loss, loss of muscle bulk, itchiness around the sexual organs, thrush, blurred vision, cramps and skin infections.

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WHAT DOES DIABETES DO?Diabetes can: • double the risk of heart disease or stroke• increase the risk of kidney disease• lead to limb amputation• double the risk of depression• cause erection problems• cause problems in pregnancy• reduce life expectancy• increase the risk of blindness by 10-20 times.

© Men’s Health Forum 2013 • menshealthforum.org.uk • image: Paul Holloway • more health info at malehealth.co.uk or mysainsburys.co.uk© Men’s Health Forum 2013 • more health information at menshealthforum.org.uk • your website Your logo

TYPES OF DIABETESType 1 diabetes (10% of cases)

Usually affects:

• younger people with

• thinner body shape and

• can come on suddenly.

The body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing cells. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections for the rest of their lives.

© Men’s Health Forum 2013 • menshealthforum.org.uk • image: MegaBu7 • more health info at malehealth.co.uk or mysainsburys.co.uk© Men’s Health Forum 2013 • more health information at menshealthforum.org.uk • your website Your logo

TYPES OF DIABETESType 2 diabetes (90% of cases)

Usually affects:

• adults over 35 who are

• overweight and

• often develops gradually.

The body produces some but not enough insulin. Sometimes, symptoms can be controlled with diet and exercise.

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DIABETES IS INCREASINGIn the UK, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled since 1996 to around 3 million.

It is estimated that by 2025 five million people in the UK will have diabetes.

Men aged 35-54 are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as women of the same age.

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People with diabetes in MILLIONS


HOW TO AVOID DIABETESYou are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes if you:

• have a family history of diabetes

• are of south-east Asian, African or African-Caribbean descent

• are overweight

• smoke

• take little exercise

• have a poor diet

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WHO CAN HELP?

© Men’s Health Forum 2013 • menshealthforum.org.uk • Halle Berry: Tom Sorenson • more health info at malehealth.co.uk or mysainsburys.co.uk

• If you have any symptoms or are concerned in anyway, see your GP.

• Properly managed, diabetes need not spoil your life. You can be a Hollywood movie star or even lift the FA Cup with diabetes.

• Diabetes UK can provide further information.


diabetes

Healthcare