Diabetes as a health issue is regularly in the news in the UK because unhealthy lifestyle factors are causing a growth in the number of people developing type 2 diabetes. However, this news is regularly at the expense of stories about type 1 diabetes, the incidence of which is also on the rise. This is despite, or perhaps because of the fact that type 1 diabetes isn't caused by lifestyle factors.
With around 1 in 20 people living with diabetes in the UK much is made about the need for people to take responsibility for their future and lead a healthy lifestyle now to avoid complications later. Yet in all the talk about how obesity contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes, little is ever said about type 1 diabetes.
Consequently people are generally aware that more and more people are being diagnosed with (type 2) diabetes. Few people would know that the rate at which people are developing type 1 diabetes is also on the up, especially amongst young children. This is largely down to the fact the media often talks about a rise in 'diabetes' generally.
As we know it, the main causes of type 1 diabetes are little known, but they are not down to things like eating too much or not doing any exercise - most people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a very young age. Another difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes is that for the former daily insulin administration is always necessary, and this is often very painful.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are big issues in the UK, because they are diseases that can cause life-threatening complications and cost the NHS millions and millions of pounds a year. But while plenty of attention is being placed on educating the public about type 2 diabetes there is still more to be done when it comes to letting people know about what type 1 diabetes is. Even if someone has very little chance of developing it themselves, it is something that could affect someone close to them or even their own child or grandchild in the future.
With around 1 in 20 people living with diabetes in the UK much is made about the need for people to take responsibility for their future and lead a healthy lifestyle now to avoid complications later. Yet in all the talk about how obesity contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes, little is ever said about type 1 diabetes.
Consequently people are generally aware that more and more people are being diagnosed with (type 2) diabetes. Few people would know that the rate at which people are developing type 1 diabetes is also on the up, especially amongst young children. This is largely down to the fact the media often talks about a rise in 'diabetes' generally.
As we know it, the main causes of type 1 diabetes are little known, but they are not down to things like eating too much or not doing any exercise - most people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a very young age. Another difference between type 1 and 2 diabetes is that for the former daily insulin administration is always necessary, and this is often very painful.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are big issues in the UK, because they are diseases that can cause life-threatening complications and cost the NHS millions and millions of pounds a year. But while plenty of attention is being placed on educating the public about type 2 diabetes there is still more to be done when it comes to letting people know about what type 1 diabetes is. Even if someone has very little chance of developing it themselves, it is something that could affect someone close to them or even their own child or grandchild in the future.
