Diabetes Week 2015 – 14 – 20 June

Diabetes Week 2015 – 14 – 20 June 

Diabetes Week is a highlight in the Diabetes UK calendar. It’s a time when the organisation calls on support from everywhere to raise awareness of the condition, and raise funds for the charity’s work. Diabetes Week 2015 will take place from Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 June and the CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department is supporting

the week again this year.

 

This Diabetes Week Diabetes UK wants to remind everyone that you’re not on your own when it comes to Diabetes. Actually there’s a lot of people out there going through the same thing. And Diabetes UK is working for those people. And they have lots of ways they can help. 

 

Throughout the week, Diabetes UK will be talking about all of the ways they give support, advice, and chances to learn more about diabetes to help people be aware of the signs, symptoms and how to manage the condition well.

 

And Diabetes UK would like to hear feedback, hints, tips and stories of living life to the full. 

 

Measure Up – are you at risk of Diabetes?

 

Over two million people in the UK have Diabetes. Another 750,000 have diabetes but are completely unaware of it. Attached is information and leaflets to find out more. Diabetes is serious. If left untreated it can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and other life-threatening complications. Many people with diabetes have had it for between nine and 12 years before it is diagnosed. By this time many of these people will have started to develop some of the complications. But the good news is that if people can spot their diabetes early they can greatly reduce the risk of serious health problems. So those who suspect they have symptoms should go to their GP and get a test.

 

Type 1 v Type 2 Diabetes

 

There are two main types of diabetes.

 

Type 1 diabetes usually affects people under 40 and is treated with insulin injections, diet and regular physical activity.

 

Type 2 diabetes is usually found in white people over 40 years old and in black and Asian people and people from minority ethnic groups aged over 25 years. It can be treated with diet and physical activity alone – although most people will also need tablets and sometimes insulin injections. Over three quarters of people with diabetes have Type 2.

 

The attached leaflets provide further information.

 

Those at risk!

 

People who are white and over 40 years old, or black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group and over 25 years old and have one or more of the following risk factors, should ask their GP for a test for diabetes:

• A close member of your family has Type 2 diabetes (parent or brother or sister).

• Are Overweight or have a waist of 31.5 inches or over for women; 35 inches (80cms) or over for Asian men and 37 inches (94cms) or over for white and black men.

• 80 per cent of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are overweight. The more overweight and the more inactive you are the greater your risk. If you don’t know whether you’re overweight, ask your GP to measure your BMI.

• Have high blood pressure or had a heart attack or a stroke or circulation problems.

• Are a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome and are overweight.

• Have been told you have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glycaemia.

• Are a woman and have had gestational diabetes.

• Have severe mental health problems.

 

The more risk factors that apply – the greater the individual’s risk of having diabetes.

 

The symptoms

 

The symptoms of untreated diabetes will usually be very obvious in people with Type 1 diabetes but not so clear or non-existent in people with Type 2 diabetes. If you’re older you may put the symptoms down to ‘getting on a bit’. Taking early action is key so if any of the following apply to you, ask your GP for a diabetes test:

 

• increased thirst

• going to the toilet all the time – especially at night

• extreme tiredness

• weight loss

• genital itching or regular episodes of thrush

• slow healing of wounds

• blurred vision.

 

The complications

 

Diabetes is serious because it can lead to life-threatening complications. These include:

 

• blindness

• kidney failure

• heart disease

• stroke

• nerve damage that can lead to amputations.

 

The risk of developing complications can be greatly reduced by getting diagnosed early and then controlling the diabetes. People can lead a full and healthy life with diabetes but the key is getting diagnosed as early as possible.

 

How to get involved in Diabetes Week 2015

 

There are plenty of ways to support Diabetes Week 2015.

 

1. Raise awareness

Help others seek support, advice and information by raising awareness of Diabetes Week. Order a supporter pack, full of posters and flyers to put up in workplaces and in the local community.

 

2. Join in

During Diabetes Week for those with the condition – think about how you manage your condition well and live life to the full. Then during the week join in the conversation by sharing hints, tips and stories. 

 

3. Survey

During the Week Diabetes UK will also be asking people to take part in a survey where people will have the opportunity to tell Diabetes UK about their knowledge of the condition, the education received and what types of support you’d like to receive from Diabetes UK in the future. 

 

4. Raise Funds

Diabetes UK will be kicking off Diabetes Week 2015 with the Big Collection. They will be collecting in 300 Tesco stores across the UK.

 

5. Supporters Pack

Support Diabetes Week 2015 by ordering a supporter pack, full of posters and flyers for you to put up in your workplace, at the following link:-

 

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/get_involved/diabetes-week/

 

Further Information

 

For Information and Resources on Diabetes Week please contact Diabetes UK at:-

 

diabetesweek@diabetes.org.uk

 

Diabetes UK Central Office

Macleod House,

10 Parkway, London NW1 7AA

Tel: 0345 123 2399*

Fax: 020 7424 1001

Email: info@diabetes.org.uk

 

The Diabetes UK Careline is on 0845 120 2960 or email careline@diabetes.org.uk for confidential support and information.

 

The Diabetes UK website at http://www.diabetes.org.uk

 

About Diabetes UK

 

Diabetes UK is the leading charity in the UK for people with diabetes, their family, friends and carers. Their mission is to improve the lives of people with the condition and to work towards a future without diabetes. They are a membership organisation – to join ring 0800 138 5605 or visit http://www.diabetes.org.uk/join

 

Diabetes UK Regional offices

 

Diabetes UK, Central Office Telephone 020 7424 1000 Email info@diabetes.org.uk

Diabetes UK Cymru Telephone 029 2066 8276

Diabetes UK Eastern Telephone 01376 501390

Diabetes UK East Midlands Telephone 0115 950 7147

Diabetes UK London Telephone 020 7424 1116

Diabetes UK Northern Ireland Telephone 028 9066 6646

Diabetes UK Northern & Yorkshire Telephone 01325 488606

Diabetes UK North West Telephone 01925 653281

Diabetes UK Scotland Telephone 0141 332 2700

Diabetes UK South East Telephone 01372 720148

Diabetes UK South West Telephone 01823 324007

Diabetes UK West Midlands Telephone 01922 614500

 Yours sincerely

 

Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer