World Diabetes Day 14th November 2023
Tuesday, 14th November is World Diabetes Day, a time for people with the condition to make sure they have all they need and are accessing the right support and for those without diabetes to learn how to avoid developing it.
Diabetes exists in a number of forms but all involve your body being unable to control the level of sugar within your bloodstream.
The most common forms are known as Type 1 and Type 2, with Type 2 being the most prevalent form of the condition. As well as being caused by genetic factors it can also be developed by people as a result of lifestyle factors, such as diet and weight.
Across Frimley Health and Care a programme of tailored support is in place to help people reduce their risk of developing diabetes. The Healthier You programme helps people to make small changes to their diets, to reach or maintain a healthy weight and to become more active. This combination of lifestyle changes has been shown to prevent the condition.
There’s an online tool anyone can use to find out their risk of diabetes. It can be accessed here: https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/know-your-risk-tool/
If you have had a blood test taken by a healthcare professional within the past 12 months and it shows you have ‘prediabetes’ (where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classed as diabetic), or if you have a history of gestational diabetes, you should speak with your GP about possibly being referred onto Healthier You.
You can find out more about diabetes and about what options and support are available where you live by clicking here: https://fhac-archive.frimley.icb.nhs.uk/diabetes