A healthy lifestyle can help prevent diabetes

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún marked the occasion of World Diabetes Day by urging people to take regular exercise and pay careful attention to what they eat.

There are around 30,000 people in Northern Ireland alone who suffer from diabetes, which is common condition in which the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly.

Speaking on Wednesday, November 14, Ms de Brún said: “What you eat directly affects blood glucose levels. People who are overweight and do not take exercise run the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of diabetes. It accounts for 4 out of every 5 cases of the disease.

“People with diabetes have a higher chance of developing serious health problems like circulation problems, heart disease and stroke.”

The Minister added: “Many people with type 2 diabetes may be unaware that they have the condition and may have developed complications by the time they are diagnosed. It is important for the public to be aware of the symptoms so that they may seek medical attention if they suspect they may have diabetes.”

There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 diabetes also known as insulin dependent diabetes and Type 2 also known as non insulin dependant diabetes. Type 1 results from an absolute deficiency of the hormone insulin and more commonly develops before the age of 40. Type 2 results from a relative deficiency of or insensitivity to insulin and is more commonly diagnosed in people aged over 40 years.

The Minister concluded: “Research evidence shows that adopting a healthy lifestyle can help those who already have diabetes and also help prevent the onset of diabetes in those who might otherwise go on to develop the condition.”

The symptoms of diabetes include thirst, production of excessive urine, weight loss, recurrent infections, changes in eyesight, pain and numbness in limbs and unexplained tiredness. (AMcE)