Diabetes

Diabetes is a life-long condition that causes a patient’s blood sugar to become too high.

Diabetes comes in two main forms, patients have one or the other:

• Type 1 diabetes – the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes – the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin.

Type 2 diabetes affects a much larger number of patients that Type 1 diabetes, for example in the UK 90% of all patients with diabetes have the Type 2 condition.

Some pregnant women will produce such high levels of glucose that their body cannot keep up with its insulin production, such cases are known as gestational diabetes.

Causes of Diabetes

Insulin is a substance produced by your body to regulate the amount of sugar in your blood. It is produced in your pancreas, the gland behind your stomach.  When you digest your food and the nutrients and sugars in it enter your blood stream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into your cells, where it is used to make energy. But in patients with diabetes your body loses the ability to break down the glucose needed to make energy. This is because either your body is not making enough insulin to do this properly or the insulin you are making is not working properly.

While there are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of acquiring Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity.

Managing Diabetes

If you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll need to eat healthily, take regular exercise and carry out regular blood tests to ensure your blood glucose levels stay balanced.

Your doctor can help you manage the condition and improve your quality of life.

You can use your private medical insurance or pay for your Diabetes treatment. We offer competitive, fixed price packages. If you are using your health insurance, please contact your insurer first for approval and let them know you’d like to be treated at One Hatfield Hospital.