LIBBY DOWLING FEEL & LOOK GOOD
assessment for Type 2 diabetes and enable people to under- stand their own personal risk of developing the condition. Once people have their risk
checked, either online - www.
diabetes.org.uk/riskscore - or by visiting a pharmacy, those at high risk will then be asked to visit their GP for a test for Type 2 diabetes and given informa- tion about how to reduce their risk. Or, if you are concerned that you might be at high risk, you can speak directly to your GP.
As well as identifying those at high risk, risk assessments can also identify some of the estimated 850,000 people in the UK who have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. This gives peo- ple the chance to start manag- ing their condition and so reduce their risk of devel- oping long-term complications. Blindness,
amputations, kid- ney failure, heart attack and stroke are just some of the complica- tions that Type 2 diabetes can lead to. Some people mistakenly be- lieve Type 2 diabetes is a ‘mild’ condition. If it is detected early and well managed it is possible to live a long and healthy life. But people need to understand that it can have very serious consequences. The good news is that for
Up the
amount of vegetables and fruit
high risk of Type 2 diabetes or being diagnosed with it can be the start of a process of making healthy lifestyle changes. Some people who discover they are at high risk of the condition lose weight and their risk reduces as a result. For those who are diag- nosed with the condition, making the necessary adjustments to diet and lifestyle can have a major impact on the successful management of Type 2 diabetes. Sticking to the medication prescribed for you and ensuring you get the healthcare you are entitled to – visit www.diabetes.
org.uk/15-essentials - will also help.
If people want to reduce
you eat and reduce your intake of sugar, fat and salt.
their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes, making small changes that you can stick to in the long term is a good approach. Up the amount of vegetables and fruit you eat and reduce your intake of sugar, fat and salt. Try to have more meals cooked from scratch, so
you know exactly what’s in them. And check the food labels carefully on ready meals and go for ones that are low in fat, salt and sugar. When it comes to exercise it’s
great to do some walking and make ex- ercise part of your everyday regime. So try and walk instead of always getting in the car to run a short errand. Or take up something that you know that you will enjoy and stick to, such as cycling or going dancing. b
CURING TYPE 2 DIABETES
BY BARRY LANDSBERG As long as I can remember, I have
loved eating. During my early teens, my school gave out exercise as a punishment. This probably was a factor in my strong avoidance of exercise of any kind.
habitually overeating, locked in a belief I could never lose weight, and accepted that I would be overweight for the rest of my life. All of this changed with the shock of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I spent some time deciding how I would handle this. What I wished for was to reach a healthy weight and blood sugar level, and maintain it easily and naturally for the rest of my life. To achieve this almost impossible
dream, I mindfully chose what habits I wanted to cultivate, what foods I wanted to start liking, so that every day was an investment towards a lifelong healthy lifestyle that was increasingly easy to maintain. In addition I developed an arsenal of mental tools to help me. I chose the gym as the place to start exercising, and also to gradually start moving to healthier eating. I learned to enjoy eating slightly smaller amounts, and more importantly slowly switched from sweet and processed food to more nutritious food, also reducing my carbohydrate intake. Eventually I lost 40kg and my blood sugar became normal again. 12 years later, I was discharged from the diabetic register. I still exercise regularly, and really enjoy healthy way with no feeling of deprivation whatsoever. I am an ex-diabetic, and with my current lifestyle intend to stay that way.
HERE TO HELP
If you would like to speak to someone from Diabetes UK, contact the charity’s Careline on 0345 123 2399.
If you would like to see your story published, send it to:
marketing@thebestyou.co
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