Diabetes Week

Diabetes Week

The theme of this year’s campaign is “You are not alone when it comes to managing Diabetes”. Especially when first diagnosed it can seem like a bit of an uphill battle to manage your condition and live well. Concentrate on the things you can do and the challenges you have overcome rather than the negative aspects of having the condition and remember there are lots of places where you can seek help and advice.

Diabetes is a common life-long health condition. There are over 3 million people living with Diabetes in the UK and probably many more who for various reasons have the condition but are yet to have a formal diagnosis.

Diabetes is when the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body is not using it properly. This is due to the pancreas not producing any or not enough insulin to help glucose enter the body’s cells and be used as fuel for energy. There are 2 main types of Diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 is where no insulin is being produced and Type 2 where there is not enough. Type 1 usually occurs before the age of 40 and often in childhood and requires daily insulin injections – it accounts for about 10% of all sufferers. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs after the age of 40 but can occur at any age and is initially treated with diet and regular exercise but if this is unsuccessful regular medication or even injections of insulin may be needed.

Type 2 Diabetes can develop slowly often with few or no symptoms so it is important that you identify if you are at risk and can see your Doctor for testing. The risk factors are:

• Overweight
• Family History of Diabetes
• History of polycystic ovaries or gave birth to baby over 10lbs
• You are from afro-Caribbean, Black African, Chinese or South Asian background.
• History of high Blood Pressure, stroke or heart attack
• You suffer from schizophrenia, bipolar or depression or taking anti- psychotic medication.

Enjoying your food is one of life’s pleasures but it can be more tricky if you have Diabetes – a healthy, balanced diet will help you to eat and feel well and have more energy. We stock an extensive range of healthy foodstuffs which could be incorporated into your diet and you will be given advice and support.by your health care professionals.

Many common herbs and spices are thought to have blood sugar lowering properties that make them useful for people who have or are at risk of Type 2 diabetes. A number of clinical studies have been carried out in recent years that show potential links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control. Plant based therapies which may have anti-diabetic properties include:

• Aloe Vera.
• Bilberry extract.
• Cinnamon.
• Ginger.
• Garlic.
• Ginseng.
• Milk thistle.
• Ginkgo biloba.

If you decide to purchase any vitamins or supplements from our wide range we would strongly recommend that you discuss with your Doctor or nurse specialist first.

Please feel free to share your experiences, tips and idea for living well with diabetes.