Diabetes
At the September meeting of the Club, held at the Fulwell Golf Club, President Chris Squires introduced the speaker Alastair Mackinlay, Chairman of the local Group of Diabetes UK which is a charity for people with diabetes, their family, friends and carers. The Group holds regular meetings at St Mary’s Church Hall in Twickenham.
Alastair told us that Diabetes is a condition in which the body fails to produce enough insulin to regulate sugar metabolism and plays a key role in the body’s regulation of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. It is a serious disease with many nasty complications.
Clinically two types of diabetes are recognised: insulin dependent Type 1 which usually occurs early in life and is more severe than insulin independent Type 2 which generally occurs more gradually in later life. Although some in this latter category may eventually need to take insulin.
Insulin is a hormone of complex structure which is produced by specialised cells in the pancreas. It can also be extracted from pork pancreas and purified by crystallisation for human use and be made biosynthetically in laboratories by recombinant DNA technology using E Coli bacteria.
It is usually given by simple injection.
Generally the acute symptoms of onset of Type 1 Diabetes include excessive thirst, the passing of large quantities of urine, blurred vision, loss of weight and general weakness.
Type 2 Diabetes develops slowly, is generally associated with increased age and in those who are overweight and is usually treated by dietary means which restrict carbohydrates, and with increased exercise and drugs.
Untreated the disease can lead to serious complications which include kidney failure, cardiovascular disease such as heart disease, and poor circulation due to arterial disease. This may cause blindness and reduce the blood supply to the limbs particularly the feet which can lead in some cases to amputation. There is also interference with the functioning of the nervous system.
He went on to tell us about the risk factors and how Type 1 has a genetic history of running in the family. Other causes include sudden viral infection, for example glandular fever, which create an immunological response which can damage cells in the pancreas particularly in the young [6 months - 30 years] and sudden shock.
Type 2 usually occurs in the over 40’s age group. However some 25 year olds particularly of Asian or Caribbean origin are vulnerable and this further emphasises the importance of genetic factors. But these influences are not completely understood since some with the accepted genetic make up do not develop the disease.
There is a lot of research going on into the disease, for example Diabetes UK alone spent over £5 million last year
He went on to explain that there are 2.3 million people in UK who have the disease with over 300.000 having Type 1 and 2 million who have Type 2. The cost to the nation is in excess of £5 billion a year which amounts to 10% of the overall NHS budget. It is further estimated that up to ¾ of a million people in the population do not know they have the disease.
Locally, he said, there are probably about 4000 in the borough with the disease and possibly 1000 have the disease but do not know it.
These days it is possible to screen for any number of diseases including diabetes and the disease is so prevalent that it should be high on every body’s priority list.
Currently NHS Richmond has a policy, which is led by the Department of Health,
of screening for Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke and Diabetes among the over
40’s. This is already being carried out at some medical practices and some
pharmacies. However, all patients in the area will be notified, by their GPs, of
the availability of these health checks over the coming 5 years which will again
be carried out at these two centres.
Diabetes needs to be diagnosed early so that people in whom the disease is well controlled can lead a normal life. In both of its general manifestations people need to eat healthily, take medicines and exercise regularly.
Nationally Diabetes UK has over ¼ million members and a network of 350 voluntary groups which give all manner of support to those affected and their families and carers. The Richmond and Twickenham Group regularly invite specialist speakers to attend the meetings which are open to members of the public.
More recently a local parent group has been launched for those whose children have the disease. The Group raises money by traditional means [raffles and donations] and produces explanatory DVD’s, pamphlets and booklets which explain the disease and which are widely distributed. More information about the activities of the local Group can be found on its website: www.DUKRT.org.uk
Alastair answered the many questions raised by members at the conclusion of his talk and was thanked by Chris Squires for having given an interesting and topical account of a disease about which not enough is known and which deserves wide publicity.