World Diabetes Day is observed annually on 14 November. It’s a global awareness campaign aimed at highlighting the growing global health threat posed by diabetes. This year’s theme, “Access to Diabetes Care,” emphasises the importance of equitable access to quality diabetes care for all.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does produce. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose (sugar) from food get into your cells to be used for energy.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
- Type 2 Diabetes: A condition that develops over time, often linked to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity.
Treatment Options for Diabetes
While there’s currently no cure for diabetes, it can be effectively managed through:
- Healthy eating: A balanced diet low in sugar and saturated fats.
- Regular physical activity: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
- Medication: Insulin or oral medications to regulate blood sugar levels.
- Regular monitoring: Checking blood sugar levels regularly.
Diabetes at Doghurst Clinic
We offer services to help reduce the risk of Diabetes, including:
- Weight loss clinic: Medicated support to lose weight and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can detect early signs of type 2 diabetes.
- Lifestyle advice: We can support you to make lifestyle changes as well as refer you to personal trainers, dieticians and nutritionists.
- Medication advice: We can review your current medications and recommend other treatments and provide prescriptions as needed.
Recent years have seen the emergence of medicated weight loss treatments as a potential tool for managing type 2 diabetes. These medications, often GLP-1 receptor agonists, work by mimicking a natural hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar levels. By promoting weight loss and improving insulin sensitivity, they can help individuals with type 2 diabetes better control their blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of associated complications. However, it’s important to have a consultation with Dr Hannah first to determine if these medications are suitable for individual needs and to discuss potential side effects and long-term implications.