Diabetes Screening
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that makes a person’s blood sugar level to be consistently too high.
Diabetes comes in two primary types:
- Type 1 diabetes – the immune system of the body targets and destroys insulin-producing cells.
- Type 2 diabetes – the body either produces insufficient insulin or the cells do not respond to it.
Compared to type 1, type 2 diabetes is far more common. About 90% of all people with diabetes in the UK have type 2
What causes diabetes?
A hormone called insulin, which is created by the pancreas (a gland just behind the stomach), regulates how much sugar is in the blood.
Insulin carries glucose from the blood and into cells when food is digested and enters the bloodstream, where it is broken down to produce energy. If you are diabetic, though, your body cannot convert glucose into energy. This is a result of either insufficient insulin production or the produced insulin doesn’t function properly.
You cannot alter your way of living to reduce your risk of developing type 1 diabetes. However, healthy nutrition, frequent exercise, and reaching a healthy body weight are all effective ways to manage type 2 diabetes.
What are the symptoms?
The onset of diabetes is accompanied by blood sugar increases.
Typical signs of diabetes and symptoms include:
- Increased hunger
- Blurry vision
- Increased thirst
- Weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Sores that don’t heal
Diabetes symptoms might be so subtle that they are first difficult to identify.
How can we help you?
Diabetes Screening
You are eligible for an NHS Health Check if you are between the ages of 40 and 74. This assessment looks for the possibility of type 2 diabetes as well as other common long-term health issues.
If you experience any of the diabetic symptoms, such as a frequent need to urinate, increased thirst, or prolonged tiredness, a screening test is advised.
People who have a variety of risk factors for type 2 diabetes, such as being overweight, having a close relative who has the disease, or being of African-Caribbean, Middle Eastern, or South Asian descent, should also get diabetes screening tests.
You can get your blood sugar levels checked at our pharmacy. A quick needle prick on your fingertip is all that is needed. After that, you can speak with a member of our staff about your findings and discover the best ways to get accurate readings and lead a healthy lifestyle.