Held on 14 November each year, World Diabetes Day was set up in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the WHO to spread the word about this critical health issue.

Diabetes is a subject that’s close to our hearts at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. With a range of diabetes diagnostic products in our Assay range, we know the importance of good testing in treating and managing diabetes.     

 

Diabetes in a nutshell 

A chronic disease where levels of blood glucose are raised, diabetes can lead to damage to the heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. There are two main types: 

  • Type 1, where the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin  
  • Type 2, where you become resistant to insulin and sugar builds up in your blood 

Symptoms of both can include being hungrier, thirstier, more tired and needing to urinate more often. Left untreated, diabetes can be life-threatening.  

 

Managing risk  

Type 2 diabetes is much more common and often appears later in life. People often develop pre-diabetes first, where the blood sugar level is higher than normal – putting them more at risk of developing diabetes. 

Things like ethnicity and weight can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. But the good news is that a good diet, keeping fit and having a healthy weight can reduce risk by around 50%. 

Diabetes can be managed well with treatment and lifestyle changes, so it’s important to keep an eye on risk factors and symptoms – and get medical help early on if something seems not quite right.  

Check your risk of getting type 2 diabetes

 

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