The new figures, extracted from GP patient data, show that there are now 4.05 million people with the condition in the UK, which includes 3.5 million adults who have been diagnosed, an increase of 119,965 compared to the previous year, and an increase of 65 per cent over the past decade. There are also thought to be 549,000 people with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.
1) Myth: Type 2 diabetes is a mild form of diabetes
There is no such thing as mild diabetes. All diabetes is serious and, if not properly controlled, can lead to serious complications.
2) Myth: Type 2 diabetes only affects fat people
Whilst type 2 diabetes is often associated with being overweight and obese by the media, it is patently untrue that type 2 diabetes only affects overweight people.
Around 20% of people with type 2 diabetes are of a normal weight, or underweight.
3) Myth: Diabetes is contagious
Something of a classic playground myth, diabetes cannot be caught off someone else. Diabetes is categorised as being a non-communicable illness meaning it cannot be passed on by sneezing, through touch, nor via blood or any other person to person means.The only way in which diabetes can be passed on is from parents to their own children but even this is only a genetic likelihood of diabetes and not the condition itself.
4) Myth: People with diabetes cannot have sugar
Having diabetes does not mean you have to have a sugar-free diet. People with diabetes should follow a healthy balanced diet – that is low in fat, salt and sugar. You should still be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods, including some with sugar.
5) Myth: People with diabetes should eat 'diabetic' foods
'Diabetic' labelling tends to be used on sweets, biscuits and similar foods that are generally high in fat, especially saturated fat and calories. Diabetes UK does not recommend eating 'diabetic' foods, including diabetic chocolate, because they still affect your blood glucose levels, they are expensive and they can give you diarrhoea. So, if you are going to treat yourself, you should go for the real thing.
6) Myth: People with diabetes can't eat grapes, mangoes or bananas
People sometimes think that if they have diabetes they can't eat grapes and bananas as they taste sweet. But if you eat a diet that includes these fruits, you can still achieve good blood glucose control. In fact, grapes and bananas, like all fruit, make a very healthy choice.
Fruit is high in fibre, low in fat and full of vitamins and minerals. It helps to protect against heart disease, cancer and certain stomach problems.
7) Myth: People with diabetes eventually go blind
Although diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age in the UK, research has proved you can reduce your chances of developing diabetes complications – such as damage to your eyes – if you:
•control your blood pressure, glucose, and blood fat levels
•maintain your ideal body weight, keep active
•give up smoking.
The UKPDS suggested that the risk of macrovascular complications (myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease) and microvascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy were significantly associated with glycaemia. Each 1% (11mmol/mol) reduction of hba1c was associated with 14% less myocardial infarctions, 21% reduction in deaths related to diabetes and 37% fewer microvascular complications (UKPDS35 2000).
8) Myth: Having diabetes means you can't do certain jobsHaving diabetes should not stop you from getting and keeping a job. However, despite the Equality Act 2010 (Disability Discrimination Act in Northern Ireland), people with diabetes still face blanket bans in some areas of employment, including the armed forces. Diabetes UK campaigns to lift discriminatory blanket bans.
9) Myth: People with diabetes can't play sportPeople with diabetes are encouraged to exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. Keeping active can help reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease. Steve Redgrave, Olympic gold medal-winning rower, has achieved great sporting achievements in spite of having diabetes.However, there may be some considerations to take into account before taking up a new exercise regime. Talk to your healthcare team for more information.
10) Myth: Diabetes is not that serious of a disease.Fact: Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Having diabetes nearly doubles your chance of having a heart attack. The good news is that good diabetes control can reduce your risks for diabetes complications.
Between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 people in the 2011-2012 audit with all types of diabetes were 34.4 per cent more likely to die than their peers in the general population. Among those with Type 1 diabetes, mortality was 131.0 per cent greater than would be expected if they had the same mortality rates as the general population in England and Wales. People with Type 2 diabetes were 32.0 per cent more likely to die early
The audit allows us to estimate that there were around 22,060 additional deaths in England and 1,926 additional deaths in Wales due to diabetes
11) Myth: If you have type 2 diabetes and your doctor says you need to start using insulin, it means you're failing to take care of your diabetes properly.Fact: For most people, type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. When first diagnosed, many people with type 2 diabetes can keep their blood glucose at a healthy level with oral medications. But over time, the body gradually produces less and less of its own insulin, and eventually oral medications may not be enough to keep blood glucose levels normal. Using insulin to get blood glucose levels to a healthy level is a good thing, not a bad one.
12) Myth: It's not safe to drive if you have diabetes
Providing you are responsible and have good control of your diabetes, research shows that people with diabetes are no less safe on the roads than anyone else. Nevertheless, the myth that people with diabetes are not safe persists.
Diabetes UK is working with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in England, Scotland and Wales and the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland to ensure that the process for applying and reapplying for driving licences is fair, safe and transparent.
13) Myth: People with diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses
Not true. While there is some medical research that may suggest people with diabetes are at higher risk of developing illnesses, there’s nothing to prove this conclusively. But there are certain illnesses that are more common in people with diabetes, and diabetes may also alter the course of an illness – for example, a person with diabetes may become more unwell or be unwell for longer than a person
Not in any risk group 0.4 Mortality rate per 100,000 population
Diabetes 2.2 Mortality rate per 100,000 population
Chronic liver disease 15.8 Mortality rate per 100,000 population
Immunosuppression 20.0 Mortality rate per 100,000 population
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