Swindon residents urged to cut the sugar for Diabetes Prevention Week 2018

By Ben Fitzgerald - 13 April 2018

Community

More than 30,000 adults across Swindon are urged to look at the amount of sugar in their diet and think about the impact it could be having on their health, ahead of Diabetes Prevention Week. 

The national event, which begins on 16 April, is an opportunity for people to consider how their diet and activity levels could be affecting their overall wellbeing and, if necessary, take steps to make a positive change. 

Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for around 90 per cent of all diabetes diagnoses, occurs when a person’s body is no longer able to control the level of sugar in their blood and is largely brought on by poor lifestyle choices, such as being overweight or inactive. 

In Swindon, around 14,000 people are thought to be living with the condition, with a further 20,000 at risk because of their high sugar consumption. 

Cutting back on fizzy drinks, sweet treats and fatty foods, as well as increasing activity levels, not only helps to keep type 2 diabetes at bay, but can also slow down the toll it takes on people already diagnosed. 

Gill May, Executive Nurse at Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that has the potential to cause serious health problems, such as stroke, heart disease and even blindness. 

“The good news, however, is that diabetes can be avoided, and in some cases reversed, by simply thinking about how we live and making small, but positive, changes. 

“Not putting extra sugar on breakfast cereal or taking the stairs instead of the lift at work are just two steps that over time could help reduce the risk of diabetes. 

“This week is the perfect opportunity for people in Swindon to take a step back, really think about how their lifestyle is affecting their health and to do something about it once and for all.” 

As well as encouraging people to live healthier, Diabetes Prevention Week is also shining a light on an initiative offering support to around 100,000 at-risk people over the next two years. 

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme has been set up to help adults in England achieve a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet and take part in at least 150 minutes of weekly exercise. 

Those going through the programme will be supported by a named healthcare professional who, across a number of sessions, will help them set realistic goals and track their progress towards a healthier future. 

For more information on diabetes, speak to your GP, download the Change4Life app or visit www.nhs.uk. 

Your Comments

Be the first to comment on this article

Login or Register to post a comment on this article

Subscribe to The Link

Registered in England & Wales. No: 4513027, Positive Media Group, Old Bank House, 5 Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4BJ