Spending quality time in nature may lower heart disease, diabetes risk

From indianewengland.com

New Delhi– Do you enjoy your time spent in nature? It may help lower inflammation levels, linked to the risk of heart disease and diabetes, finds a study.

While previous research linked exposure to the natural world with better mental and physical health, the new study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity focussed on inflammation.

The study showed that frequent positive contact with nature was independently associated with lower circulating levels of three different indicators of inflammation — “interleukin-6 (IL-6), a cytokine closely involved in the regulation of systemic inflammatory processes; C-reactive protein, which is synthesised in response to stimulation by IL-6 and other cytokines; and fibrinogen, a soluble protein present in blood plasma — were measured, and structural equation modelling was conducted to detect the association between nature engagement and the three biomarkers.”

“By focusing on these inflammation markers, the study provides a biological explanation for why nature might improve health,” said the team led by Anthony Ong, Professor in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University, US.

The study particularly showed “how it (enjoying nature) might prevent or manage diseases linked to chronic inflammation, like heart disease and diabetes.”

For the study, the team included 1,244 participants who were assessed for physical health and provided comprehensive biological assessments via a physical exam, urine sample, and fasting morning blood draw.

“It’s not just about how often people spend time outdoors, but also the quality of their experiences,” said Ong.

Even when controlling for other variables such as demographics, health behaviours, medication, and general well-being, Ong said his team found that reduced levels of inflammation were consistently associated with more frequent positive contact with nature.

“It’s good to remind ourselves that it’s not just the quantity of nature,” he said, “it’s also the quality.” (IANS)

https://indianewengland.com/spending-quality-time-in-nature-may-lower-heart-disease-diabetes-risk/ 

Foot ulcers in diabetes: Simple guide for diabetics with 5 practical tips to prevent foot ulcers

From hindustantimes.com

To mitigate the risk of foot ulcers, particularly among individuals susceptible due to conditions like diabetes, adhering to these guidelines is essential

Diabetes prevalence in India has increased steadily since 1990, notably surging after 2000 while the 2023 ICMR INDIA B study by the Indian Council of Medical Research indicates that around 101 million people in India have diabetes. India ranks second globally in the diabetes epidemic, projected to rise to 27.5 million among those aged over 65 by 2045 as alarmingly, around 57% of diabetic cases go undiagnosed, totalling approximately 43.9 million.

Diabetes-related foot complications pose a significant morbidity risk due to social and economic factors. Additionally, delays in accessing healthcare exacerbate the issue, with many patients consulting informal providers initially.

Understanding Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Rajeev Premnath, General Laparoscopic Surgeon and Endoscopist, Minimally Invasive Proctology Department at Ramakrishna Hospital in Bengaluru, shared, “Foot ulcers are chronic open wounds that persistently resist healing or reappear over an extended period. These wounds arise from the breakdown of skin and tissues in the feet and ankles, often leading to infections. Foot ulcers can result from factors like high blood sugar, poor circulation, neuropathy and foot abnormalities.”

He cautioned, “Diabetes increases risk due to associated complications. Untreated ulcers can lead to severe complications like infections, abscesses and gangrene, often requiring amputation. Conditions like atherosclerosis and Raynaud's phenomenon also elevate risks. Rarely, ulcers may warrant assessment for skin cancer like squamous cell carcinoma. Foot and ankle ulcers are categorized into three main types: venous ulcers affect lower legs, neurotrophic ulcers occur on diabetic feet, and arterial ulcers due to compromised circulation.”

     Foot ulcers in diabetes: Simple guide for diabetics with 5 practical tips to prevent foot ulcers (Photo by Alex Huge)

Effects of Circulation and Neuropathy on Foot-Ulcer Development

Dr Rajeev Premnath explained, “Diabetes can result in foot ulcers through various mechanisms. Elevated blood sugar levels can induce nerve damage, reducing foot sensation and impairing injury detection. Moreover, diabetes can impede blood circulation, delaying wound healing. Coupled with compromised immune function, even minor injuries or pressure points from improperly fitting shoes can worsen the ulcer.”

He added, “Inadequately managed diabetes heightens infection risk, complicating ulcer treatment and potentially leading to severe consequences like gangrene and amputation if neglected. Consistent foot care and effective glucose management are crucial for averting diabetic foot ulcers. Additional health conditions and factors increasing foot ulcer risk include heart and kidney disease, obesity, nerve damage and alcohol and tobacco use.”

He suggested the some practical tips for individuals with diabetes to prevent foot ulcers and highlighted that to mitigate the risk of foot ulcers, particularly among individuals susceptible due to conditions like diabetes, adhering to the following guidelines is essential -

1. Conduct regular foot examinations to detect any signs of irritation, fissures, or thickened skin. Utilise a mirror or enlist the help of a family member if visual impairment is a concern.
2. Maintain foot hygiene by washing them daily with gentle soap and warm water. Thoroughly dry the feet, paying close attention to the spaces between the toes and apply moisturizer to prevent dryness.
3. Choose properly fitting shoes and soft, moisture-absorbing socks. Before wearing, inspect shoes for foreign objects or rough edges. Change socks promptly if they become damp or sweaty.
4. Trim toenails straight across using appropriate tools such as a nail clipper or emery board.
5. Consult with a healthcare professional for guidance on managing corns or calluses, as they may necessitate professional intervention.

Podiatrists and Specialists: Essential for Diabetic Foot Health

Dr Rajeev Premnath said, “Doctors assess foot ulcers, especially in diabetes patients, by visually inspecting the foot, checking for infection, assessing sensation (or lack of it), vascular compromise and assessing blood sugar control and type of footwear used. With adequate circulation and medical care, healing can occur in 3 to 6 weeks, while deeper ulcers may take 12 to 20 weeks, sometimes requiring surgical intervention.”

He advised, “Adopting lifestyle modifications to effectively manage diabetes is crucial for promoting foot health. By integrating a balanced diet, regular physical activity and vigilant blood sugar monitoring, surveillance of the foot for injuries/infections early individuals can reduce the risk of complications and enhance overall well-being.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/foot-ulcers-in-diabetes-simple-guide-for-diabetics-with-5-practical-tips-to-prevent-foot-ulcers-101713615044722.html 

How added sugar in baby food is pushing children towards diabetes

From indiatoday.in 

Reports of added sugar in Nestlé baby products, such as Cerelac, are a wake-up call for new parents to carefully read packaging labels as well as the government to bring in strict guidelines

For marketing manager Ridhima Bhatnagar, discovering her 10-year-old son to be pre-diabetic last year came as a nasty shock. Bhatnagar, 42, from Delhi, says her child has had a craving for sweet things since he was an infant. A suspected reason could be that unlike her first child, who is now 16, Bhatnagar gave her second born a lot of readymade baby food.

“My mother-in-law was around when my first born was a baby, and she would insist on giving only home-cooked porridge or mashed vegetables when my child was old enough to eat solid food. But for my second baby, there was only a nanny. I would keep very busy at work, so opted for convenience at the time,” says Bhatnagar.

She now faces deep regret because she feels it was the added sugar in readymade baby food that might have triggered a constant craving for all things sweet in the boy. Indeed, several medical studies over the years have pointed out that too much added sugar creates an addiction for it. A study published in the Nutritional Neuroscience journal in 2005 theorised sugar’s impact to be the same as drug addiction—the more you have, the more you want.

Reports of added sugar in commercial baby products has been a wake-up call for parents; (Representative image: Getty Images)

The past few years, endocrinologists are noticing a worrying pattern of increasing childhood diabetes in India. In 2015, a pan-India survey of 17,000 children conducted over three years by Fortis SRL Labs found 66.11 per cent of children with abnormal levels of sugar.

Experts say this is largely due to the huge amounts of added sugar in packaged foods given by parents to their children. “The body needs glucose to function. But pumping glucose into your system is harmful. It is stored away as fat and increases the risk of obesity. Also, constantly high blood sugar levels decrease your insulin sensitivity and puts a lot of pressure on the pancreas—a step towards diabetes,” says noted diabetologist Dr S.K. Mishra.

While most foods have naturally-occurring sugar, it is the free or added sugar that is a problem. And it is no longer just white sugar that is a cause for concern because honey, corn syrup, jaggery, brown sugar and other caloric sweeteners have the same effect on the body’s blood sugar. “Unrefined sugars have some health benefits but end of the day, they are still added sugar. You can’t have them in huge amounts,” says Ritika Samaddar, regional head, department of clinical nutrition and dietetics, Max Healthcare.

Developing diabetes in childhood is a lifelong scar that will impact the overall quality of life, warn experts. Diabetes not only limits the kind and amount of food you can eat but substantially increases the risk for heart disease and liver, kidney and pancreatic issues. It also affects vision and hearing and triggers skin problems. “The earlier you develop it, the more the chances of starting to face its consequences at mid-age,” says Dr Mishra.

With the sources of added sugar surprising, doctors say new parents need a lot of awareness on how to read packaging labels. Recently Public Eye, a Swiss organisation that undertakes investigations, public advocacy and campaigns, published a report in collaboration with the International Baby Foods Action Network. It was based on tests on Nestlé products and found them to have more added sugar in Asian markets than in European ones. Most specifically, India’s most popular baby cereal brand Cerelac averaged nearly 3 grams of added sugar per serving.

“Convenience is good, but if people became aware of how packaged/processed foods impact a child or baby’s wellbeing, they would put in the effort to make the food themselves. Added sugar is not good for anyone under two years of age, and even after that should be given in limited amounts,” says Pune-based child nutritionist Anita Dhar.

Although official guidelines don’t ban added sugar in products for infants or children, the recent revelation of free sugars in baby food is an eye-opener on the need to bring in such norms.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/how-added-sugar-in-baby-food-is-pushing-children-towards-diabetes-2529882-2024-04-21

Nutritionist says one type of food cuts type 2 diabetes risk by 23%

From uk.news.yahoo.com

Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables slashes the risk of developing diabetes by almost a quarter, according to recent research. An analysis of more than 300,000 people found those whose diets were mainly plant based were 23 percent less prone to the Type 2 form linked to obesity.

The foods are rich in antioxidants that protect against the potentially fatal disease, say scientists. They improve sensitivity to insulin - the hormone that controls blood sugar - and reduce weight gain. They also combat inflammation, explained the US team.

The study is the first of its kind because it also differentiated between healthy and less healthy plant based foods. The former included fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes and the latter potatoes, white flour, sugar and modest amounts of animal products.

It also found the association was strengthened for those who ate diets emphasising healthy plant-based foods and lower consumption of unhealthy ones. Senior author Professor Qi Sun, a nutritionist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, said: "Overall, these data highlighted the importance of adhering to plant-based diets to achieve or maintain good health.

"People should choose fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, tofu, and other healthy plant foods as the cornerstone of such diets." He added: "Higher adherence to plant-based eating habits was associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, especially when only healthy plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts, were included in the definition of plant-based."

The findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine add to evidence that diet is crucial in tackling a condition that now affects around four million people in the UK. The vast majority, around nine in ten, suffer from Type 2 that can be avoided by making lifestyle changes.

Prof Sun and colleagues also found the association was stronger for people whose diets emphasised healthy plant-based foods. First author Frank Qian, who conducted the research as a masters student in the lab, said: "Plant-based dietary patterns are gaining popularity in recent years.

"So we thought it was crucial to quantify their overall association with diabetes risk, particularly since these diets can vary substantially in terms of their food composition."

Earlier studies have suggested plant-based diets may help lower type 2 diabetes risk. But there has been a lack of research analysing the overall body of epidemiological evidence.

According to the researchers, their findings provide the most comprehensive to date supporting the link. They pooled data from nine previous studies involving a total of from 307,099 participants with 23,544 cases of type 2 diabetes.

An estimated 549,000 people have Type 2 diabetes but are not aware of it. Diabetes UK says a diet high in antioxidant-rich foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, is linked to a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes.

As well as fresh fruit and vegetables, there are other foods, such as wholegrains, nuts, seeds, legumes and fermented foods like yoghurt, that are protective against Type 2 diabetes. Ultimately, the best way to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes is by maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise, says the charity. 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nutritionist-says-one-type-food-104121533.html

Could not getting enough sleep increase your risk of type 2 diabetes?

From theconversation.com

Not getting enough sleep is a common affliction in the modern age. If you don’t always get as many hours of shut-eye as you’d like, perhaps you were concerned by news of a recent study that found people who sleep less than six hours a night are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

So what can we make of these findings? It turns out the relationship between sleep and diabetes is complex.

The study

Researchers analysed data from the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database which serves as a global resource for health and medical research. They looked at information from 247,867 adults, following their health outcomes for more than a decade.

The researchers wanted to understand the associations between sleep duration and type 2 diabetes, and whether a healthy diet reduced the effects of short sleep on diabetes risk.

As part of their involvement in the UK Biobank, participants had been asked roughly how much sleep they get in 24 hours. Seven to eight hours was the average and considered normal sleep. Short sleep duration was broken up into three categories: mild (six hours), moderate (five hours) and extreme (three to four hours). The researchers analysed sleep data alongside information about people’s diets.

Some 3.2% of participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during the follow-up period. Although healthy eating habits were associated with a lower overall risk of diabetes, when people ate healthily but slept less than six hours a day, their risk of type 2 diabetes increased compared to people in the normal sleep category.

The researchers found sleep duration of five hours was linked with a 16% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while the risk for people who slept three to four hours was 41% higher, compared to people who slept seven to eight hours.

One limitation is the study defined a healthy diet based on the number of servings of fruit, vegetables, red meat and fish a person consumed over a day or a week. In doing so, it didn’t consider how dietary patterns such as time-restricted eating or the Mediterranean diet may modify the risk of diabetes among those who slept less.

Also, information on participants’ sleep quantity and diet was only captured at recruitment and may have changed over the course of the study. The authors acknowledge these limitations.

Why might short sleep increase diabetes risk?

In people with type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to the effects of a hormone called insulin, and slowly loses the capacity to produce enough of it in the pancreas. Insulin is important because it regulates glucose (sugar) in our blood that comes from the food we eat by helping move it to cells throughout the body.

We don’t know the precise reasons why people who sleep less may be at higher risk of type 2 diabetes. But previous research has shown sleep-deprived people often have increased inflammatory markers and free fatty acids in their blood, which impair insulin sensitivity, leading to insulin resistance. This means the body struggles to use insulin properly to regulate blood glucose levels, and therefore increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Further, people who don’t sleep enough, as well as people who sleep in irregular patterns (such as shift workers), experience disruptions to their body’s natural rhythm, known as the circadian rhythm.

This can interfere with the release of hormones like cortisol, glucagon and growth hormones. These hormones are released through the day to meet the body’s changing energy needs, and normally keep blood glucose levels nicely balanced. If they’re compromised, this may reduce the body’s ability to handle glucose as the day progresses.

These factors, and others, may contribute to the increased risk of type 2 diabetes seen among people sleeping less than six hours.

                                    Millions of people around the world have diabetes. WESTOCK PRODUCTIONS/Shutterstock

While this study primarily focused on people who sleep eight hours or less, it’s possible longer sleepers may also face an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Research has previously shown a U-shaped correlation between sleep duration and type 2 diabetes risk. A review of multiple studies found getting between seven to eight hours of sleep daily was associated with the lowest risk. When people got less than seven hours sleep, or more than eight hours, the risk began to increase.

The reason sleeping longer is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes may be linked to weight gain, which is also correlated with longer sleep. Likewise, people who don’t sleep enough are more likely to be overweight or obese.

Good sleep, healthy diet

Getting enough sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Based on this study and other evidence, it seems that when it comes to diabetes risk, seven to eight hours of sleep may be the sweet spot. However, other factors could influence the relationship between sleep duration and diabetes risk, such as individual differences in sleep quality and lifestyle.

While this study’s findings question whether a healthy diet can mitigate the effects of a lack of sleep on diabetes risk, a wide range of evidence points to the benefits of healthy eating for overall health.

The authors of the study acknowledge it’s not always possible to get enough sleep, and suggest doing high-intensity interval exercise during the day may offset some of the potential effects of short sleep on diabetes risk.

In fact, exercise at any intensity can improve blood glucose levels.

https://theconversation.com/could-not-getting-enough-sleep-increase-your-risk-of-type-2-diabetes-225179 

The three ‘worst’ foods to have on an empty stomach if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes

From indianexpress.com

By making informed dietary choices, individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes can better regulate their blood sugar and support their overall well-being, said Dr Gaurav Jain, senior consultant, internal medicine, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital

Breakfast, for most people, includes buttered toast and fruits or fruit juice. But if are even a wee bit health conscious, you must know that according to experts fruits are among the three worst foods to start one’s day with. “Early in the morning, the blood sugars are usually uncontrolled due to hormonal changes. So, fruits, honey, and biscuits are [the] worst [foods] to start your day with,” a reel on the Health Hatch Instagram page mentioned.

But it’s not just these, even breads, toast/khari, fruit juice etc, can impact blood sugar levels negatively and should be avoided.

Agreeing, Dr Niti A Patel, diabetologist, thyroid specialist, scope certified obesity physician, Ace Ortho-Diabeto Care, Mumbai noted that any food that releases the sugar present in it quickly (high glycaemic index food) should be avoided, especially empty stomach as it will spike body sugar and will derange sugar control.

According to her:

1) White or whole bread have a high GI index, and are highly processed foods with no nutrients and fibre
2) Fruit juices (fresh or packed) are loaded with natural sugars. They do have lots of vitamins, minerals, and fibre but are a NO-NO for an empty stomach. “Whole fruit can be taken later in the day as mid meal snack,” said Dr Patel.
3) Corn flakes/cereal bars/muesli: Though these foods are labelled as being rich in protein/no added sugar/millets based “we must still to check the ingredients list fully. Usually, these products are high in sugar (commercial brands use different forms or names of sugars to hide the fact),” said Dr Patil.

Although whole fruits contain fibre, the juicing process eliminates it, leaving behind a concentrated supply of sugar that can spike blood sugar levels rapidly. “Fruit juice can lead to abrupt increases in blood sugar levels because it lacks the fibre to slow down the absorption of sugar,” said Dr Neeti Sharma, senior consultant, nutrition and dietetics, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram.

Furthermore, when eaten on an empty stomach, pastries and sweet baked goods like croissants, muffins, and sweet rolls are especially dangerous for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes since they are high in added sugars and refined carbohydrates. “Over time, these meals may cause insulin resistance, which will make controlling blood sugar even more difficult,” said Dr Sharma.

By making informed dietary choices, individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes can better regulate their blood sugar and support their overall well-being, said Dr Gaurav Jain, senior consultant, internal medicine, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.

                                                   Don’t start your day with fruits (Source: Pixabay)

What alternatives can you opt for?

1) Nuts and seeds
2) Any item that is lentil-based. Eg- Dal appam
3) For heavy breakfast eaters, a good choice would be protein along with carbs. For example, vegetable stuffed paratha with curd.

Opting for balanced meals and snacks that include lean proteins, healthy fats, fibre-rich carbohydrates, and plenty of vegetables is key for managing blood sugar levels effectively throughout the day. “Whole-grain, low-sugar cereals, whole fruits in moderation, or healthier snack options like nuts and seeds are preferable because they are high in nutrients and less prone to induce sharp swings in blood sugar levels,” said Dr Sharma.

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/worst-foods-empty-stomach-diabetes-pre-diabetes-breakfast-experts-tips-9257925/ 

UK: Have diabetes? Here’s how to keep an eye on your health

From voice-online.co.uk

Did you know diabetes can cause sight loss? Dr Evelyn Mensah, Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust explains: “If you have diabetes, you’re at risk of a diabetic eye disease called diabetic retinopathy.”

Screening helps to protect your eyes

Diabetes causes the level of glucose in our blood, also known as blood sugar, to rise.   

“When it’s high for a long time, blood sugar can damage blood vessels, arteries, organs and tissues, including those in the retina, at the back of the eye,” says Dr Mensah. “When the blood vessels in our eyes are affected, it can damage the retina which needs a healthy blood flow to help us to see.

“Not everyone with diabetes will be affected but if left untreated it can cause sight loss. Free regular screening from the NHS means we can detect it and treat it early to protect your sight and prevent or slow further damage.”

This video from Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust in London shows you what to expect from your eye screening appointment 

There’s also information online at NHS.uk

‘I thought I just needed new glasses’

Bernadette Warren, 55, from Surrey was registered sight impaired in 2016, 20 years after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“Diabetic eye screening is so important because you won’t usually have any symptoms,” Bernadette says. “Something could be happening, and you won’t know.

The mum-of-two already had the first stages of diabetic retinopathy which hadn’t needed treatment when she noticed she was having difficulty reading.  

Thinking she simply needed new glasses, she eventually made an appointment for an eye test. But the optician spotted a change in her condition and arranged an urgent appointment with her ophthalmologist, who diagnosed a serious eye complication known as diabetic macular oedema.  

“My blood sugar levels were the best they’d ever been but now I couldn’t see so well. I’d thought I just needed new reading glasses and I’d been putting it off.

“When I was diagnosed with sight loss, the repercussions were enormous. No one wants to lose their sight. I cried for six months.

“For my own sake, my husband's, my children’s, and others around me, I’ve made this into a positive thing in my life. It was hard. But there’s a lot of support out there.” 

Who should attend screening?

Everyone who's 12 or over with diabetes is invited to a screening appointment every one to two years. How often depends on the results from your past two screening tests.

“Exercising, giving up smoking, and keeping our blood pressure and cholesterol to healthy levels all help to reduce the risk of diabetic eye disease and other problems too,” says Dr Mensah. “Diabetic eye screening is necessary from age 12 years old, whether you’ve had diabetes for a long time or not.

“People with South Asian and Black African or Caribbean heritage are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, often at a younger age. This means they live longer with the condition and consequently are at risk of complications for a longer period of their life.

Dr Evelyn Mensah

“There is also evidence suggesting that they may also be more susceptible to developing diabetic retinopathy. Why these differences occur is complex, so if you are eligible for diabetic eye screening, please come as it can protect your eyesight. “Good eye care means going to the optician regularly too. And if you notice any changes between your diabetic eye screening appointments, contact your optometrist or optician straight away for advice.”

“Live well with diabetes" 

Bernadette, a former teacher, runs a support group for people with diabetic sight loss. She says: “When we're diagnosed with diabetes, we're told a lot about the complications, and it can be frightening.

“We hear about what we must do to avoid them, and it can feel like you've brought them on yourself. But we need to get rid of that stigma.” 

Dr Bharan Kumar, a GP working in Slough, Berkshire, agrees.

“Having diabetes can feel overwhelming and affect your wellbeing, especially when there are complications, so don’t be afraid to say if things feel too much.

“We’re here to help you. Taking your medicines as advised and testing your blood sugar means we can work together to help you maintain safe, consistent levels of blood sugar, reducing the risk of complications.”

Bernadette adds: “People are also afraid of hearing bad news. But screening and diabetic health check-ups are a positive experience – if there’s a problem, it means you can get treatment and there are so many new treatments and drugs these days.”

Screening and checks for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes include:

• Diabetic eye screening
• Blood tests every 3-6 months, to measure how well your blood sugar is controlled  
• An annual foot check to keep your feet healthy 
• An annual review and health check that includes your weight, blood pressure and risk of other illnesses associated with diabetes.

Dr Bharan Kumar

Dr Kumar says: “Attending screening and these regular checks, will help identify people’s risks of or early signs of complications, when we can do something about them. But in between these checks, please speak to your GP practice or specialist team if you’re unwell, have an injury that isn’t healing, or repeated infections – don't wait for your routine appointment.

“And because diabetes puts you at risk of becoming severely ill from common viruses, such as flu and COVID-19, or measles, I’d also recommend checking if you’re up to date with your vaccinations.”

Further support (UK):

• If you take medicines for your diabetes, you’re entitled to free prescriptions with a medical exemption certificate. Contact the NHS Help with Health Costs helpline on 0300 330 134.
• On sight loss, contact the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk or find local support with  RNIB’s Sightline Directory.
• On living with diabetic macular oedema, call The Macular Society helpline on 0300 303 0111
• Contact the Diabetes UK helpline for help or advice about living with diabetes, on 0345 123 2399 or email info@diabetes.org.uk
• Visit NHS.uk for further information on sight loss or about diabetic eye screening, help to quit smoking, or cut back on alcohol.

Did you know?

According to Diabetes UK, 850,000 people in the UK could have diabetes without knowing. Often it doesn’t have symptoms, but signs include:

• feeling very thirsty
• peeing more often than usual, particularly at night
• feeling very tired
• weight loss and loss of muscle
• wounds or infections that don’t heal, or frequent episodes of thrush
• blurred vision.

If you (or someone you know) has any of these, or you know you’re at risk of diabetes, contact your GP practice as soon as possible.

Type 1 diabetes is where the body can’t produce insulin, a hormone that manages glucose levels in the blood. It’s often diagnosed in childhood but can affect people at any age.

Type 2 diabetes is where the body isn’t producing enough insulin or can’t use it properly. It can be linked with our lifestyles and weight and is preventable.  

Gestational diabetes mellitus can happen during pregnancy when the body can’t make enough insulin. It usually resolves after the birth, but individuals remain at risk in subsequent pregnancies and of developing type 2 diabetes.

Find out if you’re at risk of diabetes by using Diabetes UK’s Know your Risk tool.

https://www.voice-online.co.uk/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/2024/04/16/have-diabetes-heres-how-to-keep-an-eye-on-your-health/