Diabetes Week 2024

Diabetes Awareness Week is an annual event organised by the charity Diabetes UK, and it’s dedicated to the millions of people who manage and live with diabetes every day. Diabetes Awareness Week takes place every year on the third week of June. This means that, in 2024, it will take place from the 10th - 16th June.

Diabetes is a condition that can seriously impact a person’s physical and mental health, but because it isn’t always a visible condition, there are many myths and misconceptions about what life with diabetes is like. That’s why the aim of this event is to spread awareness, educate people about what it’s really like to live with diabetes and raise money to support research into diabetes.

This year, Diabetes UK want to talk about the health checks you need when you have diabetes. It can cause other health problems that can become serious if not picked up and monitored or treated in the early stages. Regular diabetes health checks are offered as part of your annual review and include:

• Blood tests - HbA1c (to check average blood sugar levels) , Cholesterol levels (to check how much fat is in your blood) and h ow well your kidneys are working.

• Urine sample - to check for any kidney damage

• Foot checks

• Review of weight and height for BMI

• Blood pressure

• Smoking advice, if required

• Eye screening

These regular diabetes health checks are vital to keep you healthy, so you can continue living life to the full. It makes all the difference if you know how to manage your diabetes between appointments too. Things like eating a healthy diet to help manage your cholesterol and blood pressure, checking your feet daily for any changes, and keeping active will help to control your diabetes at home.

If you don’t think you are getting the checks you should be or are struggling to manage things at home, speak to your healthcare team and they will help to get you back on track.