Controlling diabetes in the 21st century

A delicious bowl of pasta I had at Jamie's Italian in Birmingham

As we enter the closing stages of Diabetes Awareness month, it is very clear to see that diabetes is an issue within healthcare that is only going to get more and more voluminous as we head deeper into the 21st century.

According to Diabetes UK, since 1996, the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled and that figure could still rise further to as many as five million by 2025.  Much debate has been based around whether increased consumption of fat, sugary foods and even alcohol, plus smoking and a lack of regular exercise are to blame for this rise. And even more of the debate is now turning towards whether government should be asked to step in and implement legislative measures - such as putting taxes on certain food items - in order to combat the issue. In fact, some people now believe that governmental intervention is now inevitable.

So what exactly is diabetes? Diabetes is a condition meaning that a person has excessive levels of glucose in the body which cannot be properly processed and utilised because the beta cells inside the pancreas does not produce enough of a hormone called insulin. Insulin permits glucose to enter body cells and its role in the body is so important, because without it we cannot perform the essential and normal functions and activities in daily life.

There are two types of diabetes. Type I is where those crucial beta cells are absent, therefore a lack of insulin in the body poses a major problem for any incoming glucose. Type II diabetes is caused by an excessive intake of glucose - so much so that the body cannot process the whole amount of glucose properly. But its not the only factor that causes type II diabetes. Many other factors such as age, family history and obesity can cause type II diabetes.

Because no cure exists for type I diabetes, it has to be continuously managed day after day with insulin injections, which isn't exactly the most pleasant method of medicine delivery. No oral dosage form exists because insulin is digested in the stomach. However, insulin is more readily available if injected as it avoids being digested by enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. The good news is that many people who have to administer insulin via injection live normal, successful and happy lives.

According to Diabetes UK, 85 to 95 percent of all cases of diabetes are classified as type II. Type II diabetes is normally treated through adopting lifestyle changes such as integrating exercise into a patient's daily schedule or life and changing elements of their diet. NHS Choices recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate exercise such as cycling or fast walking per week (that's around 20-25 minutes a day). However, NHS choices also advises that the patient must ensure that they consult their GP or diabetes care team first before initiating any new activity.

As for dietary changes, the general guidance is normally to eat a balanced diet, cutting down on the amount of fat ingested and eating regular food based on starchy carbohydrates - such as pasta, potatoes and cereal. Check out the link to the BBC Health website where there are lots more information.

Pharmacists are key people in healthcare who can play a major part in helping patients across these islands and beyond to control diabetes and live a full, peaceful, prosperous and happy life. With services available such as blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol monitoring and free diabetes checks - normally available without the need for making an appointment - patients have never had easier access to receiving support to tackle diabetes.