Tips for managing diabetes

can lead to all kinds of health complications.

You’ll commonly hear diabetes referred to as “type 1” or “type 2”. The first means that the body doesn’t produce any insulin, while the second – the most common type in the UK – means the body doesn’t respond to insulin as it should. in pregnant women – so, an early warning system. lifestyle changes – such as increasing their activity levels and following a healthy diet. If these changes alone do not help, there are many different medication options your GP can discuss with you such as tablets or insulin injections.

If blood sugar levels become too high (hyperglycaemia) patients will need to take insulin, and if they become too low (hypoglycaemia), patients can remedy this by having sugary or drink. Some medications for type 2 diabetes can increase the change of having low blood sugar episodes, so it is important that you are able to recognise the signs. The most common way of monitoring blood sugar levels is through a finger prick blood test, but there are new options on the market for type 1 diabetics including a wearable monitor that gives 24/7 results without the need to draw blood. The sensor reads blood sugar levels from fluid just beneath the skin, transmits them wirelessly to a display on a portable reader held near the sensor and is less invasive than traditional methods.

Simple dietary changes can have a massive impact on the day-to-day management of diabetes as well. These include:

Swapping refined or complex carbohydrates such as white bread or pasta for whole meal alternatives

Increasing the intake of pulses, fruits and vegetables and fish

Reducing salt intake – diabetics are already at higher risk of heart disease, something high salt intake is a contributing factor

Opting to cook from scratch over processed foods