Diabetes is a disease that makes a person's glucose level in the blood to become elevated. This condition is called hyperglycemia. Diabetes can also present with hypoglycemia.Diabetes is grouped into two main types . These are Type 1and 2. There are approximately 3.2 million people living with diabetes in England alone. (Diabetes UK, 2014) This number has more than doubled from 1996, when there were about 1.4 million reported cases (Diabetes UK, 2014). In 2025, it is estimated that approximately five million people will have diabetes in the UK. Type 2 diabetes is way more common than type 1. In the United Kingdom, about 90 percent of adults suffering from diabetes have type 2. A number of people have blood sugar levels exceeding the normal …show more content…
Many people have type 2 diabetes for long without realizing. This because the early symptoms tend to be non specific The amount of glucose in the blood is controlled by insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. When food is broken down and enters the bloodstream, insulin aids in the movement of glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it is used to produce energy. In the case of diabetes, the body is unable to use glucose as a source of energy. This is because there is either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced is inactive. (NHS, 2015) In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells As no insulin is then produced, glucose levels increase, which can seriously damage the organs in the body. Type 1 diabetes is known as insulin-dependent diabetes. (NHS, 2015) It is also sometimes known as juvenile diabetes or early-onset diabetes as it usually develops before the age of 40, especially during the teenage years. It is less common than type 2 diabetes. In the UK, it occurs in about 10% of all adults with diabetes. (Diabetes UK,