Diabetes - or diabetes mellitus as it is known in full - occurs where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the blood, and affects up to 3 million people in the UK. Most of our food is broken down into glucose, the level of which is regulated in the blood by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas and allows glucose to move from the blood into the body's cells where it is converted into the energy we need for daily life.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin, produces an insufficient quantity, or produces insulin that does not work properly.

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 (insulin dependent diabetes) usually develops before the age of 40 where insulin producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors or by a virus
• Type 2 (non insulin dependent diabetes) usually appears in people over 40 where the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to control glucose levels or the body cannot use insulin properly

Some pregnant women also develop gestational diabetes during later stages of pregnancy, and should be tested between the 24th and 28th weeks of their pregnancy. While it will disappear after childbirth, it can cause health issues for the baby if undetected.

The vast majority have type 2 diabetes, which is generally treated with diet or medication. Type 1 diabetes' patients are dependent on insulin to survive, and injections are essential.

For more information, visit: www.diabetic.org.uk

What are the possible symptoms?
Symptoms are similar for both types of diabetes, although type 1 diabetes may develop very rapidly while type 2 diabetes can develop gradually (causing symptoms to assigned down to age). Symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Constant thirst and dry mouth
• Frequent urination (especially at night)
• Slow-healing cuts and bruises
• Weight loss
• Genital itching
• Tiredness and weakness
• A tendency to minor infections
• Tingling or numb hands or feet

Why should I test?
If undiscovered, diabetes can lead to serious complications such as kidney disease, blindness, and amputation, and increase the risk of coronary heart disease and strokes. Early detection has obvious benefits. Up to 50% of people with diabetes in the UK will be unaware of their condition.

While diabetes is not a curable condition, it can be controlled and you should be able to lead a normal life. About 75% of sufferers will have type 2 diabetes, usually treated by diet and medications. Type 1 diabetes, however, will require daily insulin injections. You may need to make some adjustments to your lifestyle and will need to monitor your blood sugar levels frequently, but medical advice and support will be available once a diagnosis has been made.

How BookaTEST can help
When blood glucose levels rise above normal, glucose is passed into the urine by the kidneys (this is also the cause of some diabetes symptoms, such as excessive urinating and genital itching). A simple urine test can therefore detect the presence of glucose, which is not normally present in urine.

Our home testing kits check for the presence of glucose in urine, enabling you to detect whether there is a possibility of diabetes.