Have a great weekend

Saturday 31st of January

Hello Everybody

I hope you are all feeling well today and for the sports fans are looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday and the pictures of the warm Florida sunshine.

Those of us in the more northern latitudes are either snowed in or expecting a brace of cold weather. Wrap up and keep warm!

There have been lots of new members joining our community this week and some very interesting articles have been posted. There are a couple of requests asking for some feedback and it would be great if one or two of us responded. Especially to the post ‘what inspires you about diabetes.’

http://mydiabetessocialnetwork.ning.com/forum/topics/what-inspires-you-about


If there is anything in particular that you want to ask or feel that would be beneficial and you don’t yet feel confident in posting a blog or forum entry yourself then just drop me a note privately and I’ll respond.

Thank you for letting your friends and colleagues know about the group and for those of you with your own blog sites or if you are on facebook please publicise mydiabetes. Let’s see if we can get to 100 members by next weekend.

Best wishes and have a great week!


David

PS – To change your picture from the blue square to one of you or indeed to a picture of your pets just press the “mypage” tab and under the blue box on you own Page there is a note saying change picture. Good Luck

Keep positive about your diabetes!

Diabetes is a disease that is long lasting. Health Care Professionals call diseases like diabetes chronic diseases. Diabetes affects a wide variety of people, young and old, black and white, and many of us know someone who is affected by diabetes.Being diagnosed and learning to live with diabetes can be a difficult thing. Feelings of denial, shock, anger, resentment and sadness are normal. The important thing is that you are not on your own. All over the world millions and millions of people live with diabetes and have normal happy lives. Understanding diabetes and understanding your diabetes takes time however with the right support you’ll be fine.The most important link in managing your diabetes is you and the reason for the existence of http://www.mydiabetes.com/ is to provide a resource for you to share your story and get some support from your fellow travelers on the diabetes journey.Keep positive!

Eamonn Homes, Feelgood Factor and Diabetes

I understand that Eamonn Homes will be very busy indeed according to a report on Diabetes Uk this evening -

Good luck Eamonn from all of us a http://www.mydiabetes.com/





Co-host and contestant of new Saturday night ITV series ‘The Feelgood Factor’, Eamonn Holmes, will be raising funds for Diabetes UK over the coming eight weeks.
The programme is designed to provide people with the perfect way to change their lifestyle, with help, advice and support on how to eat better and exercise more.
Pledge a pound
Aimed at those aged 18 years or over, it encourages people to raise money for charity as they lose weight by signing up to the ‘Pound for Pound’ pledge. For every pound they pledge to lose, their friends and family can each pledge a pound or more in cash for their chosen charity.
For every pound in weight Eamonn loses, a pound or more in cash will be shared between Diabetes UK and Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke.
Invaluable awareness raising
“When I was asked to nominate a charity for ‘The Feelgood Factor’, Diabetes UK was an obvious choice. I have friends who have had Type 2 diabetes creep up on them because of weight problems. I hope by doing this, I will raise awareness of the connection between Type 2 diabetes and being overweight and, of course, I also hope the funds raised help with all the great work Diabetes UK does”, said Eamonn.
“We’re delighted that Eamonn has chosen to support Diabetes UK," said Diabetes UK Chief Executive Douglas Smallwood.
"His public profile and the funds he raises will be invaluable in helping us improve awareness of the benefits of healthy living and physical activity in people with, and at risk of, Type 2 diabetes.”
'The Feelgood Factor' starts this Saturday at 5:50pm on ITV1.

Enid's Story managing mydiabetes

Enid Mutton is in her 70's and tells the story of how she felt when she was diagnosed with diabetes, how she reacted, what her health care team told her and how she manages now on a day to day basis. Her full story and a short film is here on our community site mydiabetes.com
http://mydiabetessocialnetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs/managing-my-diabetes-enids

Enid explains that whilst at first she was very worried and afraid she was able to come to terms with her diagnosis and go on to manage on a daily basis.

Thank you Enid.

Mydiabetes.com

The mydiabetes.com social media community has its first members. The purpose of our group is to provide support for and share our experience of diabetes with other patients, family members, friends and healthcare professionals.

To join us you will need to proceed to this link www.mydiabetes.com

Blood Glucose target ranges - new information for self testers

Diabetes UK has updated its blood glucose target ranges for people with diabetes, following recommendations from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
In November 2007, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) suggested changes to the post-meal target ranges.

In 2008, NICE published their guidelines for Type 2 diabetes, again with changes to the target ranges.
As part of Diabetes UK’s policy to continually review and update advice for people with diabetes, we have now reviewed our recommendations in line with NICE.

Here are the new ranges

Self monitoring of blood glucose levels UK

Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a beneficial part of diabetes management. As part of the day-to-day routine it can inform of necessary lifestyle and treatment choices as well as help to monitor for symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycaemia, or signs of long-term complications.
Self monitoring supported by education is therefore one of the key tools available to people with diabetes to enable them to self manage effectively. Essential to this is the person being able to discuss the purpose of self monitoring, how to interpret and act upon results.
It is important that the blood glucose levels being aimed for are as near normal as possible (that is in the range of those of a person who does not have diabetes).
These are:
3.5 - 5.5mmols/l before meals
less than 8mmols/l, 2 hours after meals.There are many different opinions about the ideal range to aim for. As this is so individual to each person, the target levels must be agreed between the person and their diabetes team.
The target blood glucose ranges below are indicated as a guide.
Children with Type 1 diabetes (NICE 2004)
Before meals: 4-8mmols/L
Two hours after meals: less than 10mmols/L
Adults with Type 1 diabetes (NICE 2004)
Before meals: 4- 7mmols/L
2 hours after meals: less than 9mmols/L
Type 2 diabetes (NICE 2008)
Before meals: 4-7mmol/L
Two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmols/L

Shocking new Figures - So what!

The extract below reproduced from Diabetes UK newsletter once again highlights the cost of diabetes to our friends and families. One in eight of us will die as a result of diabetes and its complications by 2010.

Statistics no longer shock us. The stock market has seen to that. Statistics and numbers no longer shock us. The price of fuel has seen to that. Statistics no longer shock us. Insane measurements of SATs and examination progress have seen to that.

How best can we address the cause of the epidemic of diabetes? Individual responsibility or Government intervention. Both even?

Here is a statistic- Don't eat processed food, do some light exercise every day, smile a little more and you will be 100% more likely to live a long and healthy life.

Is it really that simple? How do I start to exercise when I have never exercised? I can't afford organic food. I have no time to cook food, ready made food is easier. It's not easy for me to cook.

Australians seem to have worked the message of sunshine and cancer into the psyche - how can we do a similar thing with food, exercise and diabetes? There in lies the challenge.

"Shocking new statistics

11 August 2008

New figures by the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory reveal that more than one in ten (11.6 per cent) deaths among 20 to 79-year-olds in England can be attributed to diabetes. If current trends continue, one in eight (12.2 per cent) deaths among 20 to 79-year-olds will be attributable to the condition by 2010. This work is based on data that shows adults under 80 with diabetes are around twice as likely to die as those without the condition and women with diabetes have a greater increased risk of death compared to their male counterparts. Biggest health challenge“These new figures are truly alarming and confirm that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today," Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK. "There are currently 2.3 million people diagnosed with diabetes and more than half a million people are unaware they have the condition.“Good self-management, awareness, and improved access to specialist diabetes care services are crucial if we are to curb this growing health crisis and see a reduction in the number of people dying from diabetes and complications attributed to the condition.”Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with the highest percentage of diabetes-attributable deaths are areas with a higher than average proportion of the population over 40 and where there are large numbers of over 40s of Asian and Black origin, who are at greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. These areas also have high levels of deprivation compared to PCTs with the lowest proportion of deaths.The percentage of diabetes-attributable deaths varied at PCT level from 9 per cent in Buckinghamshire to 17 per cent in Newham, East London.Data methodBy using a method that combines data from previous research studies and estimates of diabetes prevalence with population and mortality data, the work is able to provide a more accurate picture of the number of deaths attributable to diabetes than from routine sources which often fail to identify diabetes or diabetes-related complications as the principal cause of death.Whilst still around twice as likely to die as their peers without the condition, the number of deaths in the younger age groups is small compared to the older age groups."

Diabetes the cause of 100 amputations each week

Diabetes UK today released some research showing that 100 people each week are undergoing amputations as a result of complications caused by their diabetes. mydiabetes.com will soon be available for patients with diabetes to learn more about their disease and to share their stories

Stress, Men and Diabetes

This article posted by the BBC today discussed some scandinacian research into the increased risk of developing diabetes.
Stress, Sleepless Nights and anxiety in men all play their part in increasing the risk acording to the atricle. Good news for women is that there is no similar link for them!

Fruit or Fruit Juice?

Interesting article in todays telegraph about the risk of fruit juice drinking and type II Daibetes.