There are currently more than 2.5million people with diabetes in the UK, and more than half a million additional sufferers who are unaware they have the condition.

Diabetes Awareness Week (June 14 to 20) is the ideal time to highlight the signs and symptoms of the illness, which has two main types - Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be treated very successfully.

Type 1 diabetes is the less common of the two types and accounts for 5-15% of all people with diabetes.

This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40 and cannot be prevented, and would prevent most people from working offshore as they need to be very carefully assessed by a doctor, and restrictions usually apply.

In most cases, Type 2 diabetes is linked with being overweight. It usually occurs in people over the age of 40. However, recently more children are being diagnosed with the condition, some as young as seven.

Type 2 diabetes, which we will focus on in this article, accounts for up to 95% of all sufferers. It is generally not considered to be such a problem for offshore workers as long as it is controlled.

The main signs and symptoms of diabetes are:

• Increased thirst
• Urinating more frequently – especially at night
• Extreme tiredness
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
• Slow healing of wounds

In people with Type 2 diabetes the signs and symptoms might not be obvious and if you’re older you may put the symptoms down to “getting on a bit.” Taking early action is key so if any of the symptoms apply to you, ask your GP for a diabetes test.

The symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated. Early treatment and good symptom control will also reduce the chances of developing serious health problems in the future such as eye, kidney, artery or heart disease.

The main risk factors include:

• If someone in your immediate family already has Type 2 diabetes
• You’re overweight or if your waist is 31.5 inches or over for women; 35 inches or over for Asian men and 37 inches or over for white and black men
• You have high blood pressure or you’ve had a heart attack or a stroke
• You’ve been told you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia
• If you’re a woman and have had diabetes while pregnant

The more risk factors that apply to you, the greater your risk of having diabetes.

Being diagnosed with diabetes means that looking after your health is even more important.

The main aim of treatment of both types of diabetes is to achieve blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as near to normal as possible in order to alleviate the symptoms and protect you from the secondary complications associated with diabetes.

People with diabetes have an up to five-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those without diabetes.

Kidney disease can happen to anyone but it is much more common in people with diabetes and people with high blood pressure.

In particular, if you work offshore it is vital to manage diabetes well; otherwise, you may be at risk of your medical certification being restricted as well as more ill-health and time off work.

You may require tablets and/or insulin to help treat your diabetes but healthy eating and regular activity are essential components of successful treatment, as well as promoting weight loss (if you are overweight), optimum health and wellbeing.

If you are worried about your weight or maintaining a healthy lifestyle then why not arrange an appointment with me at Abermed for up to date dietary advice and information.

Toby Donnelly, Dietitian at Abermed