Diabetes

Overweight women with diabetes may be able to cut their risk of urinary incontinence if they lose some weight, a new study suggests.

Overview

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic conditions in the world and occurs when the body fails to process glucose correctly. Many South Africans have diabetes, but a large number remain undiagnosed. Type 1 diabetes is a progressive autoimmune disease that is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, whereas type 2 diabetes is mostly caused by unhealthy lifestyle and usually starts in adulthood. Some women can also develop signs of diabetes while they are pregnant - this is called gestational diabetes. It is possible to live a healthy life with diabetes, if you learn to recognise the symptoms of diabetes early, receive proper medical care and make healthy lifestyle changes.