Diabetes Information and Support
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease where the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't effectively use the insulin it produces, leading to high blood sugar levels. There are two main types: Type 1, where the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells, and Type 2, where the body becomes resistant to insulin.
Type 1 Diabetes: The body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes: The body either doesn't produce enough insulin, or the cells become resistant to insulin's effects, preventing glucose from entering them effectively.
- Insulin's role: Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose (sugar) from food enter cells for energy.
- High Blood Sugar: In both types, glucose builds up in the blood, potentially causing serious health problems over time.
- Long-term complications: Diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss, and nerve damage.
Type 1 and Type 2, what's the difference?
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are both characterised by high blood sugar, but they differ in how the body handles insulin. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells, resulting in little to no insulin production. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, involves either the body not producing enough insulin or cells becoming resistant to the insulin produced.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Type 1 Diabetes: Cause: The immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The body cannot produce insulin which means having type 1 requires lifelong insulin therapy to regulate blood sugar levels. It is often diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, but can occur at any age. Symptoms can include frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, and extreme hunger.
Type 2 Diabetes: Cause: The body becomes resistant to insulin, meaning the cells don't respond to it properly, and/or the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin. The body may still produce insulin, but it is either not enough, or the body can't use it effectively. Treatment for type 2 diabetes often involves lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, and may require medication, including insulin. It is more common in adults, but can develop at any age. Symptoms can include frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, slow-healing sores, and fatigue.
Causes of diabetes
The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach). When food is digested and enters your bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it's broken down to produce energy. However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there's either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced does not work properly. There are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes. You can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes through healthy eating, regular exercise and achieving a healthy body weight
You may be more at risk of type 2 diabetes if you:
- are living with overweight or obesity
- do not have a healthy diet
- have a family history of type 2 diabetes
- are of Asian, Black African or African Caribbean origin
- take certain medicines such as steroids for a long time
- have high blood pressure
- have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy
Diabetes signs and symptoms
Having some diabetes symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have the condition, but you should always contact your GP, just to make sure.
Diabetes symptoms
- Toilet - going for a wee a lot, especially at night.
- Thirsty - being really thirsty.
- Tired - feeling more tired than usual.
- Thinner - losing weight without trying to.
- Genital itching or thrush.
- Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
- Blurred eyesight.
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Increased hunger.
These symptoms can affect anyone - adult or child. But some are more commonly experienced by people with type 1 diabetes, and can come on really quickly. We call these the 4Ts - find out more about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
What are the most common symptoms of diabetes?
You may experience other diabetes symptoms and the symptoms you have may not exactly match that of another person and may not be on the list above. However, the most common symptoms experienced by many people with diabetes are increased thirst, going for a wee a lot, feeling tired and losing weight.
You’re showing diabetes symptoms: what next?
If you feel very unwell or your symptoms of diabetes have come on quickly, seek an urgent appointment with your GP or call NHS 111.
If you have any diabetes symptoms, it’s important to contact your GP and ask for a blood test for diabetes.
“During my first year at medical school, I started to lose weight. In fact, I lost a lot of weight, dropping from about 100 kilos to 70… it got to the point where I couldn’t go an hour without needing the toilet and I was drinking around six or seven litres of water a day - the thirst really was unbelievable.”
Support and information
In Medway, diabetes support and advice can be accessed through the Diabetes UK Medway Support Group. They provide support for individuals with diabetes and their families, offering information on self-care, research, and new treatments. You can also reach out to Medway Community Healthcare for diabetes services, including community nursing and intensive type 1 education programmes.
Diabetes UK Medway Support Group
This support group can help you if you have or know someone with diabetes and would like to know about how to look after yourself, research and new treatments. The group provides a supportive environment for individuals with diabetes, their families, and friends. They also offer information on self-care, research, and new treatments for diabetes
Come to one of our public meetings to hear health care and research professionals talk about their work and the services they provide, or share your own experiences of living with diabetes. Help us to raise funds to support more research.
Our meetings are held quarterly at St Paul's Church, Parkwood, Rainham, Kent, ME8 9PN. For more details or to find out when our next meeting is, phone 01634 319 634, 07767 764 440, 01634 387 339, 01634 789 568 or 01634 251 931.
Living Well Taking Control
This is a free, 9-month programme designed to significantly reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and improve your health. Your GP can refer you or you can self-refer with an up-to-date blood sugar reading. They offer group sessions or self-led through their app. This is part of the NHS Healthier You programme.
Local services for diabetes management and education
Spirit Hub Diabetes Education - diabetes education programmes can help you to improve your knowledge and skills and help you take control of your condition and self-manage it effectively.
Paula Carr Diabetes Trust - offers links to NHS advice sites.
A Better Medway Diabetes Masterclass - This session aims to enable greater understanding of Diabetes, with a focus on Type 2 Diabetes, the risk factors for developing the disease, how it may be prevented, and the importance of managing the condition and to increase awareness of Diabetes and its impact on Health.
A Better Medway Health Training - offers several courses to promote a healthier lifestyle such as Physical Activity and Eating Well.
Managing Type 1 diabetes
All people living with Type 1 diabetes are eligible to attend Medway Intensive Type 1 Education (MINT1E) where they can learn these skills; if you would like to refer a patient, please see the “How to Refer” information here. (Patients can not self-refer.)
Current nutritional and weight management guidance for people living with Type 1 diabetes is the same as for the general population. Food choices are not restricted simply due to a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, and Type 1 diabetes is not caused by lifestyle factors, including either bodyweight or physical activity level.
People living with Type 1 diabetes who inject insulin using multiple daily injections (MDI) or use an insulin pump are offered education to count the carbohydrate content of their food & drink and adjust their insulin doses accordingly. This provides the freedom to make unrestricted food choices, similar to the general population.
For those people living with Type 1 diabetes on fixed insulin regimens (such as some housebound patients given insulin by our community nursing teams), consistent quantities of carbohydrates are recommended on a day-to-day basis.
Diabetes UK provides patient-centred guidance for people living with Type 1 diabetes here.
Flash glucose monitors (Freestyle Libre) and continuous glucose monitors (CGM)
Managing type 2 diabetes
The key lifestyle focuses for Type 2 diabetes prevention are to maintain a healthy weight, eat well and be active. How can I reduce my risk of type 2 diabetes?
Recommendations for those at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes:
- For overweight/obese patients: Aiming for at least 5% weight loss
- Reducing overall energy (calorie) intake, total fat and saturated fat intakes
- Increasing fibre in the diet and physical activity levels
- Adopting a dietary approach associated with risk reduction, such as:
- Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, vegetarian and vegan diets, the Nordic healthy diet or a moderate carbohydrate restriction diet Including wholegrains, some fruit, plenty leafy vegetables and cheese, tea and coffee.
- Reducing foods associated with increased risk such as red and processed meat, potatoes, particularly French fries, sugar sweetened beverages and refined carbohydrates.
- Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity, over at least three days.
Local support for a healthy lifestyle
Health Walks are delivered by Medway Council Public Health team, the list of available walks can be found here.
Everyday Active Medway hosts many free or low-cost physical activities, with the ability to search within your local area.
Stop Smoking Service is provided by Medway Council Public Health team. Offering one-to-one support, nicotine replacement therapy, smoking cessation medication (as of 01/04/2025), a vape starter kit. Face to face appointments are available in Chatham, Gillingham and Strood.
Healthy Way course offers tips around eating healthier and moving more as well as, at week 5 offering a specific diabetes prevention session. A breakdown of the weekly activities can be found here.
A Better Medway links to a number of services we provide including Adult weight loss, NHS health checks, Substance misuse support and Active Medway Cycling Projects.
What is the main treatment for type 2 diabetes?
The main treatments for managing blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes are:
- Eating well and moving more
- Weight loss
- Metformin (usually taken as a tablet)
- Insulin along with other medication that helps lower blood sugar levels
- Other types of diabetes medicine that is injected or taken as tablets.
- Weight loss surgery
- Support with your emotional health
Using a flash glucose monitor or continuous glucose monitor can also make it easier for people with type 2 diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels without having to do so many finger prick checks. This tech isn’t offered to everyone with type 2 diabetes. Find out if you may qualify for a flash glucose monitor or continuous glucose monitor on the NHS.
