Diabetics do not metabolize glucose efficiently because of a deficiency or lack of insulin. If their blood sugar levels are too low they can go into a coma. If the levels are too high it can cause blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney problems and nerve damage that can lead to amputations. Diabetics should regularly test their blood glucose levels and consult their doctors if the levels are not in the optimum range, he said. According to the survey, nearly a quarter of people with diabetes in Britain have heart disease, over a third have high blood pressure and one in four have sight problems.
Education can save lives.
An estimated 1.4 million people in Britain suffer from diabetes and about a million more have the condition but are not aware of it. Worldwide it affects up to 135 million people. Most of the costs, which are equivalent to treating cancer patients, are caused by complications from diabetes. People with Type 1 diabetes produce little or no insulin. The condition can be controlled with injections but sufferers face a lifetime of treatment and up to four injections a day.