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World Health Day – Beat Diabetes

Superhero beating diabetes!

Super hero SMASHING diabetes - beat diabetes #diabetes

Today’s (7 April) World Health Day, run by the World Health Organization, is focusing on diabetes, to raise awareness of the condition, and how to beat and treat it.

We look after a population of 750,000 people, of which 33,000 are known to have diabetes. We care for patients with both type one and type two, as well as other rare types of diabetes.

Patients with diabetes issues are seen in our community run clinics, we also have antenatal diabetes clinics for pregnant women and those trying to conceive. Last year, we launched a joint foot clinic where diabetic patients are seen by a diabetologist, vascular and orthopaedic surgeons.

We also support people with diabetes after surgical procedures in our hospitals.

People with diabetes should stick to the diet and exercise programme prescribed by their doctor, have good blood pressure control and try to achieve sugar targets agreed with their doctor. Depending on a patient’s age, the type and duration of their diabetes, some people may also need to have their cholesterol tested.

 If you have diabetes you need to make sure that:

  • Your blood pressure is well controlled
  • Your urine is tested once per year for evidence of kidney damage
  • The back of your eyes are examined once per year
  • Your weight is close to ideal. If this cannot be achieved if you are overweight, aim to lose 5 per cent of your body weight
  • Your cholesterol is well controlled.

There are also local support groups for people with diabetes, the Barking and Dagenham Diabetes Support Group and the Havering Family Diabetes Group, which run a joint information stall at our hospitals each month.

Visit them at:

  • Queen’s Hospital on the first Wednesday of each month
  • King George Hospital on the last Wednesday of each month.

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