Diabetes week

12 May 2018

This article was featured in the June 2018 issue of the magazine.

Georgina Mason, marketing director for The Healthy Employee, draws attention to the risks of diabetes 2 and how to avoid the disease

Diabetes week runs from 10–16 June this year, highlighting the importance of ensuring we are all aware of the risks and symptoms of diabetes in order to do our best to prevent a diagnosis and control symptoms for those who receive one.     

Do you know how to keep your risk at a minimum? 

The following will increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes:

  • high blood pressure

  • depression and anxiety

  • being over age 49

  • heart attack or stroke

  • having parents or siblings with diabetes

  • being of an ethnic background that isn’t white European

  • being overweight or obese

  • having a large waist (31.5” for women, 37” for men or 35” for South Asian men).

 

...weight loss and exercise could lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%

 

Diabetes causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high, due to a lack of insulin resistance. When blood sugar becomes too high, glucose will spill out into the urine rather than being used as energy. Symptoms such as extreme thirst, excess urination, chronic tiredness, blurred vision and slow healing of wounds can occur. 

Keeping risk factors to a minimum is vital. To do this, you should:

  •  have your blood sugar level regularly checked to ensure stability

  • eat a healthy and well-rounded diet

  • gain a thorough understanding of diabetic management 

  • retain a healthy body weight and do not carry excess body fat, and exercise regularly.

Studies have also shown that weight loss and exercise could lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%. 

 

 

 


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