Free information for diabetics

AFTER the awful wet and stormy weather, we hope that spring is on the way so that many of us will be going for walks and working in the garden.

These are excellent and pleasant ways to be more active and this is particularly important for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to help them to take better control of their blood sugar levels. However, people with diabetes do need to take extra care of their feet but we have found that many people are not aware of this.

Many diabetes-related amputations take place every week in this country alone, mainly as a result of foot ulcers but 80% of these are avoidable with proper foot care. So, people with diabetes should have their feet checked at least annually by a trained healthcare professional and should also be taught how to look after their feet themselves.

To try to reduce the risks of foot damage and amputations, the InDependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) has a FREE booklet called Diabetes – Looking After Your Feet. This is designed to help people to know how to look after their feet, what to look for and when to seek treatment to keep their feet healthy and avoid foot ulcers which if left untreated, can lead to amputation.

A more active life in the spring can also mean a change in eating habits, so our booklet, Diabetes – Everyday Eating, which contains 28 days of menus of affordable meals, is also useful to help people manage their diabetes.

All our booklets are free. Get a copy of Diabetes – Looking After Your Feet and Diabetes – Everyday Eating by contacting IDDT: telephone 01604 622837 or email: jenny@ iddtinternational.org