Living well with diabetes is about more than just blood sugar
World Diabetes Day takes place on 14 November. It’s a chance to think about how we can look after our health when living with diabetes.
Managing type 2 diabetes isn’t just about blood sugar. Taking your medication, keeping active and going to regular health checks can all help you stay well. It’s also important to look after your wider health.
Living well with diabetes, day to day
There are lots of ways to look after yourself when living with diabetes. Here are six things that can help you stay well.
🥗 Eat well
Small changes can help you manage diabetes and look after your health.
- Eat a balanced, varied diet
- Keep an eye on portion sizes
- Choose changes you can stick to
🚶 Keep moving
Being active can help your health and wellbeing.
- Walking and everyday activity count
- Sit less and move more when you can
- Find activities that work for you
💊 Take your medication
Your medicines are an important part of managing diabetes.
- Take your medicines as prescribed
- Get advice if you have side effects
- Speak to us or your pharmacist if you have problems
❤️ Know your numbers
Regular checks help us keep track of your diabetes and wider health.
- HbA1c (blood sugar)
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Attend your diabetes review when invited
👣 Look after your feet
Spot changes early to help prevent foot problems.
- Check your feet regularly
- Go to your yearly foot check
- Get advice about any new problems
👁️ Keep up with your checks
Some important health checks happen outside your diabetes review.
- Go to diabetic eye screening when invited
- Keep up with other NHS screening
- Don’t ignore invitations just because you feel well
Look after your whole health
Diabetes means you need some extra health checks. But there are other checks that matter too. People with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of some other health problems, including certain types of cancer.
Diabetes and cancer risk
Type 2 diabetes and some cancers share risk factors. For example, being overweight can increase the risk of both type 2 diabetes and cancers like bowel, breast, womb and kidney cancer. We’re also more likely to get cancer or type 2 diabetes as we get older.
Keeping up with NHS screening is an important way to look after your health. If you’ve missed a screening, it’s not too late to check if you’re due one.
Screening
Screening is for people who feel well. Don’t wait for symptoms to get screened. If you notice symptoms, don’t wait for your next screening. Speak to your GP as soon as possible.
Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. NHS screening can help find signs early, when treatment may be easier.
People aged 50 to 74 are sent a bowel cancer screening kit every two years.
The kit is called a FIT kit. It checks for tiny amounts of blood in your poo that you may not be able to see.
When your kit arrives, put it by the loo as a reminder. Follow the instructions to take a small sample, put it in the tube and packaging provided, and post it back. You don’t need an appointment, or even a stamp.
If you have lost or accidentally thrown away your bowel cancer screening kit, call 0800 707 6060 to request a replacement.
Find out more in our articles about bowel and breast cancer. They explain the signs to look out for and how screening works.
Breast cancer screening
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Around 1 in 7 women will develop it in their lifetime. Although it’s much less common, men can also get breast cancer.
NHS breast screening is offered to women from the age of 50 until their 71st birthday.
Screening uses X-rays, called mammograms, to look for signs of cancer that are too small to see or feel.
Specialist machines are needed for breast screening. The NHS uses mobile screening units that visit different areas as part of a three-year cycle. This means your first invitation may arrive any time between your 50th and 53rd birthdays.
Screening is for people without symptoms. It’s also important to know what’s normal for you and get any unusual changes checked.
Our breast cancer awareness article from October explains more about the signs to look out for.
One thing to do today for World Diabetes Day
Alongside your usual habits for living well with diabetes, take a moment to check you’re up to date with your cancer screening.
If you’re not sure, these NHS services can help you find out if you’re due screening, and what to do is you’ve missed any.
- NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Helpline: 0800 707 6060 (freephone). You can also request a replacement if you have lost or accidentally thrown away your kit,
- Newcastle Breast Screening Service: 0191 282 0202
You may also be able to find details of past screening in the documents section of the NHS App.
Do you know the signs of Type 1 Diabetes?
The early signs of type 1 diabetes are known as the 4Ts. Knowing what to look out for could help you recognise the signs in yourself or your child.