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Diabetes is increasing on a global scale. Even more concerning is the fact that you could be a sufferer without knowing it. Here's what is has to do with diet and activity levels

According to Diabetes UK, over a million people have diabetes, and at least million more who are undiagnosed. It's a chronic and incurable disease with nasty complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, stroke and nerve damage.

Diabetes is not new - in the 17th century it was called the 'pissing evil' - but it is on the increase. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is more commonly found in children and young adults and is treated with a strict diet and insulin injections. It's Type 2 that is on the increase and is strongly linked to obesity and a lack of activity. There are other risk factors over which we have no control, such as genetic inheritance, simply getting older and your ethnic origin - Asians and Afro-Caribbeans do seem to be at a higher risk. Eating lots of sweet things, contrary to popular belief, doesn't cause diabetes, but it leads to weight gain, which does increase your risk. It's a fact that 80% of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The fatter and less fit you are, the greater your risk.

Type 2 diabetes used to be more common in middle age, but increasingly it's affecting younger people too. Those with the condition either don't produce enough insulin or what is produced doesn't work effectively, which means that the body can't use glucose properly and levels remain high in the blood. Some of the symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes include increased thirst, a need to go to the toilet often, especially at night, lethargy and tiredness, blurred vision, regular thrush and genital itching, plus weight loss when nothing else has changed regarding your lifestyle. Doctors say many people have these symptoms on and off for years before eventually being diagnosed as diabetic, which is easily done with a simple blood test.

In the past, if you were diagnosed as having diabetes, physical activity was discouraged and, a high fat/low carbohydrate diet prescribed. How times change! Now exercise is encouraged, just as it is for everyone to improve their health and control weight. As a role model, look to Sir Steve Redgrave, five times Olympic Gold medal winner and a diabetes sufferer! Diet-wise, the reason a high fat diet was recommended was to make up for the lack of calories that resulted from following a low carbohydrate diet to keep sugar levels stable (fat doesn't boost sugar levels in itself). Diabetics are more at risk of heart disease as a result of the condition, but of course, the high fat diet increased this risk! Luckily, nutrition has moved on, with eating guidelines for diabetics pretty much in line with general healthy eating recommendations. As well as using medication and being under strict medical supervision, most diabetics can control their condition and also lose weight by eating in the most healthful way. The eating guidelines also work as a preventative and can be used by everyone. In brief, they are:

Eat regular meals featuring starchy carbohydrates of the whole grain variety, i.e. wholemeal bread and cereals, rather than refined carbohydrates.
Cut down on fat, especially saturated fats found in animal products. Choose low fat and monounsaturated fats such as olive oil.
Eat more fruit and vegetables!
Cut down on sugar and sugary foods, especially sugary drinks which cause blood glucose levels to rise quickly.
Cut down on salt to keep blood pressure in check and drink in moderation. Diabetics in particular should be careful of drinking on an empty stomach, as it can precipitate hypoglycaemia - dangerously low blood sugar levels.


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