What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which your body’s glucose (sugar) levels rise higher tham normal. If you have diabetes your body either does not make enough insulin, ot cannot use the insulin it makes efficiently, or both.

There are different types of diabetes:

Type 1, type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes (which may happen in pregnancy)
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type. It usually affects adults, but children and teenagers may also develop type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• Urinating often
• Feeling very thirsty
• Extreme fatigue
• Poor wound healing
• Tingling, pain or numbness in one’s hands or feet.

How do I know if I am at risk of developing type 2 diabetes?
Although scientists do not know the exact cause of diabetes, risk factors include:
• A history of prediabetes or gestational
diabetes
• Family history of type 2 diabetes
• Overweight and obesity
• Age
• High blood pressure
• Indian / south asian ethnicity

How could I check if I have diabetes?
Diabetes is diagnosed using a simple blood test that can be requested by your doctor or local clinic.

How is diabetes treated?
Meal planning aimed at improved food quality and appropriate portion size

• Physical activity
• Prescription medication which may

Include oral therapy (type 2 diabetes) and/ or insulin (type 1 and type 2 diabetes)

Information provided by Dr Nasrin Goolam Mahyoodeen (Endocrinologist & Member of IMASA)