King's Pharmacy
World Diabetes Day – Raising Awareness For Diabetes
On the 14th of November, every year, millions of people across the globe gather to mark World Diabetes Day to create general diabetes awareness. The campaign is global and is spearheaded by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The day is marked by activities that take place all around the globe to show people what living with the condition is really like. The awareness day allows people to learn more about diabetes and have a diabetes screening in Birmingham and around the world.
The World Diabetes Day campaign theme varies every year as each year comes with a dedicated theme. It can change annually or be extended for more years. For example, the theme for the years 2021 to 2023 is Access to Care.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is termed a chronic condition that causes one’s blood sugar level to rise to abnormal levels.
There are two categories of diabetes:
– Type 1 Diabetes – this occurs when your body’s immune system fights and damages the insulin-producing cells
– Type 2 Diabetes – this takes place when your body fails to produce normal levels of insulin, or your body cells don’t react to insulin
Among the two, Type 2 diabetes is the most known.
Some women experience high levels of blood glucose during pregnancy. Their body can’t produce sufficient insulin that can absorb all the glucose, referring to gestational diabetes.
Pre-diabetes
A good number of people experience high blood sugar levels that go beyond the normal range. However, the levels are not high enough for them to be declared diabetic. This is what we call pre-diabetes. You are at risk of developing diabetes if the level of your blood sugar is above normal.
Diabetes screening test
If left untreated, diabetes can worsen progressively; hence, getting a diagnosis early in advance is vital.
A diabetes screening test is a good way of knowing your status early enough to prevent the development of the condition.
Why get a diabetes screening in Birmingham?
With the diabetes screening test results, you can easily seek comprehensive medical advice from your GP or pharmacist.
Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that a diabetes screening test does not replace a diagnosis.
Symptoms of Diabetes
Below are the main symptoms of diabetes. Ensure that you get in touch with King’s Pharmacy or your doctor if you experience the major symptoms.
– Urinating more frequently than normal, especially at night
– Feeling very tired
– Feeling very thirsty
– Loss of muscle bulk and weight loss
– Itching around the vagina or penis or frequently having thrush
– Wounds and cuts that take a long time to heal
– Blurred vision
Type 1 diabetes progresses quickly over days or weeks. It’s surprising that many individuals have had type 2 diabetes for a number of years without their knowledge. This is mostly because the early symptoms may seem general.
Diabetes Awareness
Most people who are diabetic wish they weren’t aware or were less aware of their situation. Nevertheless, diabetes awareness in general is vital, especially in the modern world. We all need to raise our voices to help find the cure for diabetes.
There are a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to diabetes. We can only clear the air and help people understand the condition by raising awareness, as well as offering screenings such as ours. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above:
Take a step today and have a diabetes screening in Birmingham at King’s Pharmacy.
This blog post was written on behalf of King’s Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.
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