I’m a doctor – here’s 3 life choices that could put you at risk of diabetes

DIABETES is a common condition and is one that is rising globally.

It affects almost five million Brits, or one in 14 - and needs careful management to avoid additional problems.

1

For some people conditions like type 1 diabetes can run in the family, making it hard to avoid.

This strain of the illness causes your sugar levels to become too high and you need to take insulin every day to keep these levels under control.

The NHS says that it's not linked with age or being overweight, which are key culprits in cases of type 2 diabetes.

Experts have now warned that there are lifestyle choices that could increase your risk of the condition.

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Cases of diabetes have soared in recent years, with type 2 accounting for around 90 per cent of all cases.

Endocrinologist, Dr Minisha Sood said if you think you're at risk of developing it, then there are three things in your life you should be aware of.

These are:

1. Lack of exercise
2. Poor diet
3. Not getting enough sleep.

"Being sedentary and eating foods which are processed, calorie-dense and nutrient poor can predispose one to diabetes," she said.

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Being obese or overweight is known to put you at risk and these are condition that can be the result of a poor diet and a lack of exercise.

Diabetes educator at Maryland Medical Centre, Angela Ginn-Meadow added that sitting for more than ten hours a day can increase the risk of metabolic conditions.

"A metabolic condition is insulin resistance which may lead to Type 2 diabetes. A sedentary or non-active lifestyle can increase the risk of diabetes. Physical activity is a prevention method to Type 2 diabetes."

Dr Sood told that it is also well known that people who do not have adequate sleep (i.e. shift workers and others with sleep disorders) develop diabetes at higher rates.

A previous study revealed that people who sleep less than six hours a night are at a higher risk of developing the condition.

Researches at Bristol University have discovered that those who struggle to snooze had higher blood sugar levels.

The study, published in Diabetes Care, said that treating insomnia could trigger a drop in blood sugar levels.

Senior researcher, James Liu said: "We estimated that an effective insomnia treatment could result in more glucose lowering than an equivalent intervention, which reduces body weight by 14kg in a person of average height. 

"This means around 27,300 UK adults, aged between 40- and 70-years-old, with frequent insomnia symptoms would be free from having diabetes if their insomnia was treated.”

If you think you might have diabetes, then there are some key signs you should be on the look out for.

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These include peeing more than usual, feeling thirsty all the time, feeling very tired, losing weight without trying, blurred vision and wounds taking longer than usual to heal.

You should visit your GP if you are concerned as you may need medication to help manage the condition.