Diabetes complication risk greater amongst young people

Mon, 25 Jan 2010
Diabetes is now widely understood as a global epidemic, but many people still do not really understand diabetes risks . For young people with diabetes, the threat of complications is particularly great. Failure to manage type 2 diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels increases the danger of developing a number of health issues, including amputation, heart disease, blindness and stroke.

Leading diabetes charity Diabetes UK has sent out a message – young people and children with diabetes need better access to psychological and educational support. This means that young people need to be informed about the basics of diabetes, such as diabetes symptoms, diabetes diet and diabetes control . Furthermore, it is important for young people to have the support structure to fall back on when dealing with diabetes.

Due to the hormonal changes that take place as children grow into adults, achieving blood glucose control can be difficult. Furthermore, the lifestyle of young adults can make it more difficult to manage sugar levels. Poor diabetes control increases risks of serious health complication later in life.

The charity surveyed children with diabetes and found that many struggle with communicating their needs in relation to diabetes. The national director of Diabetes UK Scotland, Jane-Claire Judson, reportedly commented: " Coping with diabetes as a child or a young person can be a great challenge and while many young people have a positive approach, others are struggling to find the support they need to minimise the impact diabetes can have on their future."

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