Diabetes Awareness
Know Your Risk
Are you any one of the following?
- Over 40?
- A bit tubby?
- African-Caribbean, Black African, Chinese or South Asian?
- Has there been diabetes in your family?
If so then you're more likely to develop diabetes.
Why is diabetes assessment important? You will have seen in press reports that diabetes is now reaching epidemic proportions. 3.7 Million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes. There are 12.3 million at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is expected to affect 629 million adults worldwide by 2045. Diabetes has been identified one of the five Lions Clubs International Pillars (causes) that 1.4m Lions around the world will try to help.
Have you been screened for Diabetes? Are you at risk?
Are you aware of the serious side-effects this disease has when not controlled? These include glaucoma, kidney failure, heart problems, possible gangrene with the loss of lower limbs.
Diabetes can be controlled but detection is required
Everyone is at risk but the largest proportion of those found with diabetes are over 40. They are overweight and have little or no exercise regime. There are symptoms which are recognisable by the patient - sudden loss of weight, excessive thirst and the subsequent use of the loo, tiredness and blurred vision, to name but a few.
Know your risk https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/gender
How are diabetics found?
There are many places to have a simple blood test, your doctor or practice nurse, some high street pharmacies.
More information...
Diabetic eye disease
Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of their condition. All can cause severe visual loss or even blindness.
Diabetic eye disease may include:
- Diabetic Retinopathy - damage to the blood vessels in the retina
- Cataract - clouding of the eye's lens
- Glaucoma - increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision.
Read more about eye disease and the Lions Eye Health Programme...
