Managing diabetes

According to health charity Diabetes UK there are 2.8 million people diagnosed with diabetes in this country plus an estimated 850,000 who have the condition but don't know it.

Type 1 diabetes affects an estimated 15 percent of all adults and children with the disease. It develops - usually in people under the age of 40 - when your body can't produce enough insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas. If you suffer from type 1 diabetes, it's likely you'll need regular insulin injections.

Type 2 diabetes usually develops when you're older, which is why it's often called adult-onset diabetes (though black and Asian people have a higher risk of being diagnosed as diabetic in their 20s and 30s). Often people with type 2 diabetes do produce some insulin, but not enough - or else your insulin is unable to do what it's supposed to do, which is to break down the glucose in your bloodstream.

Thankfully many people with type 2 diabetes are able to control their symptoms with diet and exercise. Some, however, also take medication, including insulin tablets.

What causes it?

Nobody really knows why type 1 diabetes develops, though type 2 diabetes is strongly linked with a number of risk factors including obesity, high blood pressure, severe mental health problems, polycystic ovary syndrome in women and a family history of the disease.

Experts do, however, know that uncontrolled diabetes can increase your risk for a number of serious illnesses including heart attack and stroke, as well as retinopathy (a condition that can damage your vision), neuropathy (nerve damage) and nephropathy (kidney disease).

Spot the symptoms

The symptoms of diabetes include weight loss, frequent urination (especially at night), feeling thirsty all the time, dramatic lack of energy, blurred vision and frequent bouts of thrush. However, if you're concerned you may have diabetes because you're experiencing one or more of the symptoms, for a small charge you can take a diabetes screening test at a local pharmacy.

This simple test usually involves pricking one of your fingers for a tiny sample of blood, which is then tested for raised glucose levels. If your results suggest you have - or might have - diabetes, your pharmacist will refer you to your GP for more tests.

If you're diagnosed with diabetes, you can get further help from your local pharmacy in the form of glucose level testing, which will help you manage your blood glucose levels.

Type 1 diabetics can also stock up on glucose products at their local pharmacy. These can help prevent your glucose levels from dropping too quickly, which could, in the worst case scenario, lead to a diabetic coma if you don't act promptly.

Many pharmacies also offer advice for diabetics on diet - as what and how you eat is crucial for diabetes management - as well as how to keep yourself healthy by keeping your weight down and exercising.

And if you have questions about any medication you may be taking for diabetes, your pharmacist has all the answers.

Stub it out

If you're a diabetic and you smoke, your doctor will no doubt have stressed the importance of giving up, as smoking can increase your risk of developing diabetes complications including neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy.

Smoking also raises your blood pressure and your blood glucose levels, and affects your cholesterol by increasing your 'bad' cholesterol and lowering your 'good' cholesterol.

No wonder health experts say the best thing you can do for your health if you're a diabetic is to give up smoking.

Your pharmacist can help you quit by offering advice on nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products. Some pharmacies also offer stop smoking services, which can include counselling and group therapy as well as NRT guidance.

To find your nearest participating pharmacy, visit the pharmacy finder.