Sugar isn’t more precious than your life! Diabetes in a nutshell.

This Diabetes Awareness week, Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham wants to spread awareness of the condition and encourage residents to share their experiences of living with diabetes.

Did you know that there are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2? Unfortunately, all types of diabetes cause people to have too much glucose in their blood.

You can`t make insulin at all if you have got diabetes Type 1. Did you know that Type 1 diabetes is more common in children? [1] Whereas Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity and tends to be diagnosed in older people. [2]The insulin that you make either does not work effectively or you can`t produce enough of it if you have got diabetes Type 2.

Over 129,000 people in North East London are living with Type 2 diabetes, that can be avoided along with its complications. As well as the human cost, Type 2 diabetes treatment accounts for almost 10% of the annual NHS budget.[3] Knowing about this condition and how to manage it can prevent complications that develop with the condition.

Diabetes is a leading cause of:

• preventable sight loss
• feet and lower limb loss
• is a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke.
• Loss of feeling and pain due to nerve damage
• miscarriage and stillbirth

Being aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes is important. They include:

• Going to the toilet a lot, especially at night.
• Being very thirsty.
• Feeling more tired than usual.
• Losing weight without trying.
• Genital itching or thrush.
• Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
• Blurred vision.[4]

Did you know that there are lots of small changes you can make to prevent diabetes developing in the first place?

• Getting support to eat healthily or to move more can help you adopt new habits longer term; having diabetes does not mean you have to have a sugar-free diet.
• Do something else that will get you a little out of breath for 30 minutes, on at least five days of the week.
• Breaking up long spells of sitting or lying - make sure you stretch or move often.
• Stopping smoking and reducing alcohol intake
• Optimize your vitamin D levels.

The impact on people`s mental health while living with Diabetes should not be underestimated too: [5]

®Focusing on things you cannot control.

®You feel more vulnerable to becoming unwell.

®Not being able to get what you want from the shops.

®Having diabetes to manage as well as everything else in life can feel very overwhelming.

®Fear of Hypoglycaemia (low sugar levels)

®Disordered eating due to focus on body weight and body image.

It is important to get help for your mental health symptoms as well as physical health symptoms. Opening about how you feel with someone or just joining a local support group can have a positive impact on your overall wellbeing and make you feel less alone.

Did you know that Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham offers free information and signposting service to residents? If you are not sure where to seek help, we are here to guide you. And we always welcome feedback about the local health and care services you have accessed.

Call us on 0800 298 5331 or email us at info@healthwatchbarkinganddagenham.co.uk

If you have any interest in diabetes, a healthy lifestyle, physical wellness, and mental wellbeing, why not join Diabetes Awareness and Wellness Event on the 14^th of June!

Time: 10.30 h to 12.30 h

Place: The Meeting Room, Eastbrookend Discovery Centre, Eastbrookend Country Park, The Chase, Dagenham, RM7 0SS

This event is organised by Barking and Dagenham Diabetes Support Group. You can find more information here: barking-and-dagenham.diabetesukgroup.org