Diabetes is usually caused when the body isn’t able to convert glucose into energy becayse there isn’t enough insulin, or the insulin isn’t working properly. Symptoms of diabetes include

• Feeling thirsty
• Frequent toilet trips
• Extreme tiredness/lethargy
• Weight loss and muscle wasting

Type One Diabetes

This type of diabetes tends to occur when the body produces no natural insulin. Sometimes known as insulin dependent diabetes, this form usually develops during adolescence, although it can occur in younger children and adults normally up to the age of 40.

Around 10% of all those who suffer from diabetes have type 1, and these people will have to take regular insulin injections for their entire lives and ensure that glucose levels stay balanced through healthy diet.

Type Two Diabetes

This type usually occurs when not enough insulin is produced by the body for it to function properly or when the body experiences “insulin resistance”. This form is a lot more common than type 1 and effects around 90% of adults with diabetes.

With type 2, symptoms are generally controllable through a healthy diet but may eventually result in the need for insulin medication as the disease progresses.

For a child or teenager diagnosed with diabetes, it is vital to take heed of any advice given by a doctor, as these are the ages when they are most vulnerable, and are often filled with a sense of denial about the nature of the disease. There are a number of support groups available for teenagers with diabetes which can help them to come to terms with their illness. It is important to allow them to manage their own decisions and diets.

It has become increasingly important to raise the awareness of teenage diabetes, and a number of charities such as Diabetes UK have been doing some important work to raise the profile in recent years. If you would like to do something yourself, having promotional items such as printed mugs made up will help you get the message out, and literature concerning the disease is available online and from your local NHS provider.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes can be present from birth or develop in a person’s lifetime due to changes in blood sugar and how insulin is produced in the body. There are a number of different types of diabetes:

• Type 1 means the person’s body cannot produce insulin or enough insulin;
• Type 2 is where cells in the body don’t use insulin properly and there is insulin deficiency.
• Besides gestational diabetes that may be experienced by pregnant women, other types of diabetes include cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and steroid diabetes.

Weighing risks of laparoscopic gastric band surgery and diabetes

A person with obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, undergoing gastric band surgery is at risk of complications that may include vomiting, bleeding, clotting and infection. However, complications are reduced through laparoscopical placement of the band and close medical monitoring – a procedure that can be done in an outpatient clinic within half an hour where the adjustable ring is inserted at the top of the stomach to tighten it into a smaller pouch. The risk of complications from gastric band surgery is by far not as great as obesity-related illness and diabetes risks. Gastric band surgery can save a diabetic life.

Effects of gastric band surgery on diabetes and obesity-related illness

More info is on www.gastricbands.co.uk but in general patients with diabetes are particularly benefiting from this type of gastric band surgery. Not only are they losing weight with skin firming, but they are being taught a healthy way of life with manageable appetite as the band shrinks the stomach and reduces the quantity of food desired.

The reduced Body Mass Index and weight lowers blood pressure, lessens sleep apnoea and improves or cures diabetes enabling patients to recover with enhanced well-being and better quality of life. Speak to your doctor about how gastric band surgery can treat your diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses.