Diabetes today
Over the last 30 years we have seen a massive increase in the number of people suffering from diabetes with type II diabetes now more commonplace than ever. Indeed type II diabetes is seen by many as a "lifestyle condition" brought about by bad diet, lack of exercise and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. However, nothing is straightforward with regards to diabetes and ultimately there may be a number of different factors coming together to create the perfect environment for the condition to develop.
If we take a step back and look at the situation, diabetes is now regularly spoken of in the public domain as opposed 10 years ago when there was a great reluctance to admit you had diabetes. So, why shouldn't diabetes impact upon your life going forward?
Diagnosing diabetes
In years gone by many people would have been suffering from diabetes for potentially years unaware of the condition. They would likely have encountered bouts of serious illness, challenging medical conditions and in some cases possibly pushed to the edge of life. The situation today is very different with governments and charities around the world carrying out more and more tests for diabetes on a regular basis. As a consequence, as soon as you begin to show signs of diabetes the likelihood is that a test will be made available for you and you will be diagnosed with or without the condition much earlier than people have been in the past.
This element of the diabetes industry alone should improve your standard of living in the short to medium term but if we look longer term what is the situation?
Living with diabetes
As the number of diabetics around the world has doubled over the last 30 years we have seen a major increase in the number of treatments available, research programmes and equipment. Never has the diabetes industry been so well-equipped, been so well supplied and in many cases it is on the edge of the latest technology. There is an array of different injection systems available, different ways to control your blood sugars and indeed advice on diets is available on thousands of websites around the world.
Many experts take a very simple approach to living with diabetes suggesting that "a little of what you fancy" will not necessarily do you any harm. There are other opinions with regards to this particular subject with some experts preferring to look towards specialist diabetic foods, diabetic recipes and specific ways of life. However, on the whole there is a general feeling that if you are careful, monitor your blood sugar levels and you are sensible then diabetes should not stop you from enjoying your life.
Lifting the stigma
There has been a stigma attached to diabetes for many years now, it was often one of those conditions which was never spoken of in public. However, the internet has also brought together a variety of support groups able to offer help and assistance, from people who've been there and done it, which can be invaluable going forward. Just a relatively small number of tweaks to your everyday life can make a massive difference, can put your mind at rest and can ultimately protect you from any potential dangers going forward.
We must never underestimate the power of support, the power of talking and the power of advice from those who have been there and done it. Perhaps this is ever more so in the world of diabetes, a world which was often left in the shadows with little or no public recognition or major government investment.
Conclusion
If you look back 30 years ago you will see that the number of diabetics around the world has doubled. However, during this time we have also seen major improvements in treatment, diagnosis, support and advice. The life of a diabetic is very different today than it was 30 years ago, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy life to the max and do the majority of those things on your "to-do list"
.
If you dig deep with regards to diabetes you will see a variety of different levels of advice, from food to exercise, from testing to pregnancy and everything else in between. Many experts take a fairly simple approach to the condition suggesting that if you are careful and eat "a little of what you fancy" then there is no reason why diabetes could or should control your life. We are all different but there is no reason why diabetes should ever control your life.
If you are looking for advice about diabetes, the latest news or you are struggling to cope, visit the DiabetesForum.com and join our 25,000 strong forum community.
By NM Benson
By NM Benson
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