Diabetes Information


Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which your body is unable to use the glucose from the food you eat. Glucose comes from foods such as breads, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and some vegetables. To use glucose, your body needs insulin. Insulin is made by a gland in your body called the pancreas.

There are three main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes - occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin. It usually starts in young people under the age of 30, including very young children and infants, and the onset is sudden and dramatic. People who have type 1 diabetes must inject insulin to survive. Insulin dosages are carefully balanced with food intake and exercise programme.

Type 2 diabetes - is caused when the insulin, which the pancreas produces, is either not enough or does not work properly. Approximately 85 - 90% of all people with diabetes are type 2, and many people who have this condition are undiagnosed.

Type 2 (non-insulin-dependant) diabetes occurs most commonly in people over age forty who are overweight and may have high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol. Type 2 diabetics have few or no ketones in their urine at diagnosis. With type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin, but the insulin does not work efficiently. The cells send a signal back to the pancreas, which in turn senses a too-high blood glucose level. The pancreas then manufactures more and more insulin in an effort to move the glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.Type 2 diabetes may be treated successfully without medication. Often loss of weight alone will reduce glucose levels. Eating patterns and exercise play important roles in management. Tablets may be prescribed to help improve control.

Over the years, the pancreas may exhaust itself and stop producing insulin, in which case you would have to take insulin injections.

Although type 2 is, in itself, not life threatening, in many ways it is more dangerous than type 1, as it's onset is gradual and hard to detect. High blood glucose levels over a long period of time can cause serious damage to the delicate parts of the body and lead to blindness, heart attack\stroke, kidney failure, impotence and amputation.

Gestational diabetes - is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. Both mother and child have an increased risk of developing diabetes in the future.

Treating Type 1 diabetes

The aim of treatment is to bring blood glucose levels into the normal range, which is 4 - 6 mmol/l. Treatment includes :
  • healthy eating
  • exercise
  • insulin injections
  • tablets and/or insulin in type 2 diabetes
Good management entails regular blood glucose monitoring - that is, testing your blood glucose levels and adjusting your treatment accordingly.

Treating Type 2 diabetes

The three main categories of treatment are diet, exercise and medication. In type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise alone are often all that is necessary to bring blood glucose down to manageable levels. Sometimes oral medication is necessary.

Oral Medication

Oral hypoglycemic agents help the body metabolise the glucose obtained from food. These drugs are not insulin, but they do stimulate insulin-producing cells to secrete more insulin, and they help overcome insulin resistance. The most important thing to remember is that tablets are used only as an addition to diet and exercise, never in place of them. Diet and exercise remain the mainstay of treatment. Controlling blood cholesterol and blood pressure are also important components of treatment.

Diabetes South Africa
Children and Diabetes

Lower Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes - Teen Tips
Today, more teens than ever before have type 2 diabetes.

Know the warning signs:
If you have type 2 diabetes, you might:
  1. urinate a lot
  2. be very thirsty
  3. lose weight without any reason
  4. feel tired
  5. have patches of thick, dark skin that feels like velvet on your neck or under your arms

Some teens do not notice any of these warning signs. They find out they have diabetes when they go to their doctor for a check-up.

How can I lower my risk for getting type 2 diabetes ?
There are several ways to lower your risk :
  1. Stay at a healthy weight
  2. Be more physically active
  3. Choose to eat the right amounts of healthy foods
  4. Follow the ideas on this tip sheet and share them with your friends and family. They are good for everyone's health.

How will physical activity help ?
Like eating well, physical activity can help you feel good. Being physically active may :
  1. help you control your weight, build lean muscle, and reduce your body fat
  2. strengthen your bones
  3. increase flexibilty and balance
  4. improve your self-esteem and mood
  5. help you sleep better
  6. help you focus in school
  7. improve your teamwork skills through sports

Okay, let’s get started:
  1. Set small goals at first. Do not get upset if you cannot do a lot or if you get out of breath at first. Keep moving ! Any amount of activity will help. Add more activity each week until you reach your goal
  2. Aim for at least 60 minutes everyday. You don’t have to do it all at once—20 minutes at a time, three times a day is okay, too. There are lots of ways to be active. Go for a walk, ride a bike, dance, play ball, or shoot hoops. Choose what you like best, then do it!

Reduce Calories
Try to cut some calories. If you cut 100 to 200 calories a day, it can make a big difference.

If You :You could cut about :
Drink water instead of regular soda or a sweetened fruit drink 150 calories
Eat a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar or a bag of chips 200 calories
Eat a small serving of french fries or share a big one
250 calories
Eat one half cup of sugar-free, nonfat pudding instead of regular ice cream
150 calories


Try these healthy eating tips.
  1. Take your time when you eat. It takes about 15 minutes for your stomach to tell your  brain that you are full. So, wait 15 minutes before eating second helpings.
  2. Do not skip meals. Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a snack. You will have a ready supply of energy and not get too hungry.
  3. For breakfast, try one or two slices of whole grain toast with a tablespoon of peanut butter, a hardboiled egg, or a piece of low-fat cheese, along with a glass of low-fat or nonfat milk.
  4. Make a sandwich with turkey or lean beef for lunch. Use mustard or a little low-fat  mayonnaise.
  5. Snack on a small bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat or nonfat milk and a piece of fruit.
  6. Don’t “super-size” it! Order smaller, kid-sized meals and drink water or low-fat or nonfat milk. Share a larger meal with a friend.
  7. Fill up half of your plate with salad or vegetables. Use small amounts of low-fat salad dressing, mayonnaise, or margarine.
What’s in it for me?

If you lower your risk for type 2 diabetes, you will:
  1. have more energy
  2. feel good about yourself
  3. be healthy now and in the future
Take action now. Use the ideas in this tip sheet to stay healthy and lower your risk for type 2 diabetes.

National Diabetes Education Program