URGENT FIGURES from Central Manchester CCG show that diabetic patients aren’t taking the recommended care checkups advised. 

Figures published by the Greater Manchester Strategic Clinical Networks Diabetes Programme in 2015 show that 47.3% of patients at Central Manchester CCG aren’t receiving the eight care process – a 6.6% fall since the 2011 results ; below the national level.

Diabetes is described as an unseen disability – a long term condition wherein the amount of sugar in the blood becomes too high because the pancreas cannot produce insulin to counteract it.

Conditions such as amputation, blindness and kidney failure can occur with long-term high blood sugars. Regardless of this, surprisingly up to 40% of women aged between 15-30 are willingly missing out on injection doses in order to lose weight. Experts predict that up to one-third of young female diabetics could be suffering with this condition,

It costs approximately £250.46 per prescription, per diabetic at Central Manchester; wasting valuable NHS resources if not used correctly.

Having an eating disorder and diabetes simultaneously creates ‘diabulimia’ – a combination of the two dangerous, unseen illnesses. It has been shown that women with type 1 diabetes are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder – compared with those without.

‘Diabulimia’ is not currently recognised by both medical or psychiatric institutions, but is growing awareness – especially with the Lisa Day case which was released by The Telegraph back in April.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a condition caused by long-term hyperglycaemia, which can lead to a build up of keytones; the blood becomes acidic. Left untreated, DKA can be extremely fatal. If picked up early, it can be treated through an IV drip with insulin and glucose. Lisa Day, 27, died September, 2015 through developing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) after struggling with ‘diabulimia.’

 

Vicky Gillespie, 22, had this to say of her experience: “My diagnosis was in my first year of high school – which I handled quite well considering how young I was. It was quite easy to control, but then it could fluctuate just as quickly; there was a lot of factors which played in to it, to be honest.

“The timetable at school helped me stick to a regime of eating at a constant time – which is key in diabetes management – something difficult to “Currently, I’m on NovoRapid insulin thrice a day and Levemir (a long-lasting insulin) once a day.

“After having it for 11 years now, my handle on it has improved – once you get into ideal blood sugars, it’s difficult to break the cycle. The adjustment of units and types of insulin I’m on also contributes to the control I have now. I think one of the problems with diabetes is it’s easy to get into a repetitive cycle – once your blood sugars become high, sometimes it can take a while for insulin to kick in.”

Speaking of unmonitored diabetes, she added: “In a way yes I have missed doses or I have not checked my blood sugars when I’m ‘supposed to’. I have had it where the machine doesn’t work so I’m not able to check my sugars in general, or I’m in public where it’s considered a stigma. Most of the time, it doesn’t feel like much has changed, but I suppose it has. I have to make sure I have my insulin, my blood sugars are normal, and prepare for hypos.”

A ‘hypo’ stands for Hypoglycaemia, the opposite of high blood sugars which is also dangerous.

When a person with diabetes intentionally lowers their insulin, and doesn’t adhere to the dose necessary to their carbohydrate and sugar intake – their blood sugars spike and sugars leak through their kidneys into their urine. The result is quick weight loss – a short-term benefit to lack of insulin.

The most common signs of ‘diabulimia’ are :

– Body dysmorphia

– Manipulation of insulin doses and intense dieting to control weight

– Binge eating.

Recognizing the symptoms

– Unexplained weight loss, despite eating more

– Unexplained high blood sugar

– Low energy levels

– Decrease in concentratio

-Frequent urination

-Dizziness

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