TODAY’S lifestyle for thousands in the UK is leading to more cases than ever of the serious condition diabetes.

In Bolton, around 16,500 people a year are diagnosed with the condition involving the body’s blood glucose levels. Nationally, there are around 3.7 million diabetics and Diabetes UK says around 12.3 million are at risk of developing it.

Diabetes comes in two types. Type 1 is not caused by diet or lifestyle; it just happens. About 10 per cent of this country’s diabetics have Type 1 diabetes.

This means your body naturally attacks the cells in your pancreas that make insulin so you cannot produce any at all. Insulin is needed to allow your body’s glucose to enter the cells and fuel the body and glucose instead builds up in the bloodstream.

Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly, especially in children. The main ones are feeling very tired, needing to pass water much more often, feeling extremely thirsty, cuts and grazes healing slowly, getting infections like thrush, weight loss and blurred vision caused by the eye lens changing shape.

If you’re diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, you will get insulin into your body by injecting it or using an insulin pump delivering a constant supply into you. You will also need to check your blood glucose levels are not too low or too high by using a blood glucose testing device several times a day.

The vast majority of diabetics now, however, suffer from Type 2 diabetes which means the insulin in the body doesn’t work properly and blood glucose levels keep rising.

Type 2 is often linked to being overweight or inactive or having a family history of diabetes – the risk is 20 to 80 times higher for anyone obese. Around three to five cases of Type 2 can be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and being active.

Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may be much less noticeable. Unfortunately, over a long period, high glucose levels in your blood can lead to complications involving serious damage to your heart, eyes, feet and kidneys.

Type 2 is managed in various ways, sometimes by healthier eating, being more active and losing weight. Eventually, most people will need medication to bring down their blood glucose to a safe level.

Margaret Price was just 14 when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes after frequently getting up in the night to go to the toilet, consistently drinking and becoming very thin.

“A lot less was known about diabetes then,” explained Margaret, a 65 year-old retired family support worker who lives in Bradshaw.

Young Margaret began injecting herself daily in the leg with insulin, using a large needle which she had to boil before each use.

“I just got on with it,” stated Margaret. And that is what she has done ever since, controlling the levels with a long-lasting insulin injection each morning and then injecting herself with insulin before every meal.

She also monitors her blood glucose levels throughout the day with a hand-held meter. “When you know that you could die if you don’t look after yourself, then you just do it,” she added.

She has learned the importance of a healthy diet and exercise and feels it is a matter of “being in tune with your body.”

Margaret became involved with Bolton Diabetes Support Group in 1990. She found the coming together, the exchange of information, advice and support and the access to expert help very valuable.

The group is keen to hear from more people with both types of diabetes. To find out more call her on 01204 308389 or go to www.bolton.diabetesukgroup.org