You may have heard of the illness named diabetes. It is a big thing in the UK and in the whole world. In fact, in the UK, 700 people are diagnosed with diabetes every day. One London Newsnuggets reporter is affected. Here he tells you something about the condition, and how he copes with it.
In the world, the increase is half a million people every day, and 2.2 million die every week of diabetes. Signs that you might have diabetes include needing to go to the toilet a lot, going to bed earlier then usual and increased thirst.
There are two kinds of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when a person’s pancreas has stopped working (the organ in our bodies that produces insulin that we need to process the sugar we eat). Type 2 diabetes is when a someone’s body still produces insulin but sometimes in the wrong amount. Diabetes that is not treated can lead to very serious complications such as amputations, heart attacks, kidney failure or eyesight loss.
Because I have diabetes, I personally think it is fine if you embrace the fact that you have it – that you accept it. If you are worried about it, you will make your thoughts about it worse. I have to take an injection of insulin every day so that I can eat normally without the risk of a hyperglycaemic shock. If you think that you have this illness, or if you know you have it and you are worried, you should speak to a nurse, to your parents, or to a health advisor. There are organizations that help children with diabetes and they will be happy to support you and answer questions, for example Children With Diabetes, and Diabetes UK. The situation was terrible for me before I got help. I could not breath, so if you are worried you should speak to the people I have told you about.
By: Joseph