Managing Diabetes - Q2 2021

A Mediaplanet campaign focused on

Managing Diabetes

©Photographer: James Tomlinson

Jack Trigger “It’s important to keep the bad days and low moments in perspective.

They happen to everyone.”

Read more on page 02

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“Some people can live for up to 10 years with type 2 diabetes before being diagnosed.” ~ Douglas Twenefour Deputy Head of Care, Diabetes UK

Q2 2021 | A promotional supplement distributed on behalf of Mediaplanet, which takes sole responsibility for its content

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“Until we find a cure, these technological solutions will go a huge way in enabling people with diabetes to live their lives as they want to.” ~ Professor Pratik Choudhary Chair, Diabetes Technology Network UK

Read more at www.healthawareness.co.uk

Tackling the physical demand of diabetes and sailing At the age of 21, British solo offshore sailor Jack Trigger was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

He tells us how he manages his diabetes alongside pursuing his sailing career.

Q. Did you have any symptoms before you were diagnosed?

In hindsight, I had all the usual symptoms excessive thirst and constant fatigue. At the time, I was racing in a physically demanding three-week race around the Arabian Gulf, but it wasn’t until I arrived home and noticed I had lost 20kg in just three weeks that I realised something serious was wrong.

Amazingly I was so dehydrated that I regained seven of those in just one night on a hospital drip, despite drinking litres and litres of water every day to quench the thirst.

Q. What lifestyle changes have you made since then?

As an athlete I already did a lot of the things that help with diabetes management, like eating well and regular exercise, although I have had to become more prepared for everyday life. You can’t leave the house without emergency supplies and sometimes diabetes can require attention at just the wrong time, so spontaneity has taken a little back seat.

Q. What advice would you give to someone with type 1?

I think it’s important to take control of it, to work with your diabetes healthcare team to find what works for you. It’s important to keep the bad days and low moments in perspective. They happen to everyone.

Q. What challenges does someone living with diabetes face on a day racing?

Solo ocean racing is probably one of the more challenging things you could do with diabetes, it’s physically demanding and high stress, you sleep in just 20-minute bursts and establishing routine is often impossible. Not to mention you’re potentially thousands of miles from help should you need it!

But by being strict, having good systems in place and making the most of technology like the insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor that I use, I can look after myself and still compete against the best.

Q. Can you tell us about what makes taking part in the Route du Rhum unique?

It’s a unique challenge: 18 days alone pushing yourself and your boat to the limit, few people get to experience something like that and what you learn about yourself is invaluable and often unexpected.

Then there’s the adventure, the chance to connect with nature and to do something you aren’t certain is possible until you’ve done it! It’s incredibly rewarding.

The importance of diagnosing diabetes early Diabetes diagnoses in the UK have hit an all-time high. The numbers are rising sharply and Diabetes UK’s latest figures, released in May, show that 4.1 million people are living with a diagnosis of the condition.

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round 90% of people with diabetes have type 2. Noticing the warning signs can be difficult as they are subtle and many people do not show any symptoms at all.

This means some people can live for up to 10 years with type 2 diabetes before being diagnosed.

In fact, we estimate there are around 850,000 people living with type 2 diabetes in the UK who are yet to be diagnosed, taking the total number of people with diabetes in the UK to 4.9 million.

Unfortunately, by the time people are diagnosed, one in three already has complications with their heart, eyes, feet, kidneys or nerves.

Knowing your risk of type 2 diabetes When you have type 2 diabetes your body can’t get enough glucose into your cells for energy, so a common symptom is feeling very tired. There are other symptoms – such as feeling thirsty, going to the toilet a lot, or losing weight without trying to.

If you have these symptoms, you should contact your GP. There are other ways to be aware of your risk.

The NHS health check offers a five-yearly checkup to people aged 40 to 74, to help spot the early signs of type 2 diabetes and other health conditions.

There is also the Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ tool. This is a free online tool which takes just a few minutes to complete. It quickly advises the individual on their risk and suggests next steps.

Spotting the signs of type 1 Type 1 diabetes is less common, making up about 8% of cases. Other, more rare types of diabetes include monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosisrelated diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, the most common symptoms are known as the ‘4Ts’. The 4Ts are being Thirsty, going to the Toilet more, feeling Tired and losing weight so you get Thinner. These symptoms usually come about quickly, are more severe, and are usually obvious – so people are more likely to be diagnosed early.

We need insulin to live, but people with type 1 do not produce any which is why, once diagnosed, people with type 1 are treated with insulin straight away. They are also given a glucose meter to monitor their blood glucose levels at home and are provided with guidance of how to use the meter, what blood sugar levels to aim for and what to do when the levels are too high (hyper) or too low (hypo).

For further reading about early diagnosis, and information about the other forms of diabetes, such as gestational diabetes, visit: diabetes.org.uk

WRITTEN BY

Douglas Twenefour Deputy Head of Care Diabetes UK

WRITTEN BY

Jack Trigger Ambassador Diabetes UK

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Project Manager: Scott Bellis scott.bellis@mediaplanet.com Business Development Manager: Josie Mason Managing Director: Alex Williams Head of Business Development: Ellie McGregor Head of Production: Kirsty Elliott Designer: Thomas Kent Freelance Designer: Lottie Fox-Jones Digital Manager: Harvey O’Donnell Paid Media Strategist: Jonni Asfaha Production Assistant: Henry Phillips All images supplied by Gettyimages, unless otherwise specified

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Why my tubeless insulin pump has been a game-changer Belgian triathlete David Van der Vloet reveals how a tubeless insulin delivery system has helped improve his diabetes management — and made sporting activities easier.

W INTERVIEW WITH David Van der Vloet Triathlete & Omnipod® Ambassador WRITTEN BY Tony Greenway

Find out more at omnipod.com/en-gb

INS-ODS-05-2021-00134 V1

hen he was 13, David Van der Vloet went to a party at his grandparents’ house and proceeded to drink cans and cans of lemonade. “I was so thirsty,” he remembers. “At one point my father noticed there were no more soft drinks left because they were all on my side of the table. He thought: ‘This isn’t normal’, so took me to the doctor.”

It was a good thing he did because David was later diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This explained other symptoms he’d been having, such as a constant need for the bathroom, headaches and generally feeling unwell.

“Diagnosis was a difficult time,” he says. “All of a sudden I was having to finger prick and inject insulin multiple times a day. I was put on a strict diet and my life had to be incredibly structured.

My brothers and my sister, who didn’t have type 1 diabetes, could eat whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted — whereas I felt limited.

That was hard and frustrating.”

Ground-breaking diabetes innovation has made life easier But times — and innovations — change, and over the years, advances in diabetes treatments have brought greater flexibility and freedom into David’s life. When he was in his early twenties, the introduction of fastacting insulin to his regimen made it easier to time his insulin injections with food, so he could be more spontaneous with mealtimes. Since last October, his insulin has been delivered by the Omnipod DASH® System - a small, tubeless Pod controlled via Bluetooth® from a smartphone-like device called a PDM (personal diabetes manager) meaning he no longer requires multiple daily insulin injections.

This technology has been a godsend, because Belgium-based David is a successful triathlete who competes in Ironman competitions. “Because I do a lot of swimming, running and cycling, I had my doubts about using a pump,” he admits. “In a triathlon, every second counts, so I didn’t want spend time trying to disconnect the device just before a swim. But my system is tubeless and the Pod is waterproof*, so I can swim while wearing it. Those features convinced me to try it, and I’m really glad I did. I haven’t looked back.”

David demonstrates how he wears his Pod discreetly under his upper arm. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have this device when I took part in my first Ironman competition,” he laughs. “I was having to inject myself on my bike while I was racing, which wasn’t easy!”

Image provided by David Van der Vloet

Unfortunately, I didn’t have this device when I took part in my first Ironman competition,” he laughs. “I was having to inject myself on my bike while I was racing, which wasn’t easy!

Advertisement by Insulet

Giving you more control over your insulin delivery Having more control over insulin delivery benefits David away from sports, too. For example, by personalising his Omnipod DASH® System settings, it helps him to regulate his insulin delivery at night, which may help prevent nocturnal hypoglycaemia.

“It’s made my diabetes management a totally different experience,” he says. “I can work out how much insulin my body needs at a certain time of day or night and regulate the Pod to deliver it.”

David’s message to anyone newly diagnosed with diabetes is “don’t let your diagnosis hold you back,” he says. “People with diabetes can achieve whatever they want, if they have the right support, technology and motivation.” * The Pod has a waterproof IP28 rating for up to 7.6 metres for 60 minutes.

The PDM is not waterproof David Van der Vloet is an Omnipod® Ambassador with an on-going commercial relationship with Insulet.

This Omnipod DASH® System user testimonial relates to an account of an individual’s response to treatment with the Omnipod DASH® System. However, the individuals’ response does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have when using the Omnipod DASH® System. The response other persons have could be different. Please speak to your diabetes healthcare professional to assess your suitability for the Omnipod DASH® System. Refer to the Omnipod DASH® Insulin Management System User Guide for complete safety information including indications, contraindications, warnings, cautions, and instructions.

David Van der Vloet David, 35, is a triathlete and veteran of various quarter, half and full Ironman competitions. He is preparing for a seven-day cycle from his home in Belgium to Mont Ventoux in southern France, a distance of 1200km. He lives with his wife Aleksandra and two daughters, Hanna (1) and Laura (5) — and runs a diabetes and sports blog.

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Accepting your diabetes diagnosis takes time – but it will happen Being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a teenager can affect your self-esteem and mental health. But getting better at diabetes management helps you accept your situation.

I SPREAD INTERVIEW WITH

Laura Yates 25 years old, living with diabetes and FreeStyle Libre ambassador

SPREAD WRITTEN BY

Tony Greenway

n the run-up to her 13th birthday, Laura Yates started to experience several worrying symptoms. “I’d lost a lot of weight,” she remembers. “I was also really thirsty all the time, so I was taking a two-litre bottle of water to school and constantly needing a wee. I’d wake up lots of times in the night to go to the loo, too.” Plus, she always felt tired.

After her GP had run some tests, Laura was told that she urgently needed to go to hospital, where more tests were carried out and a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes was confirmed.

“It was only for an overnight stay, but it was scary,” she says. “I didn’t know anything about diabetes, but I was suddenly told that I would have to prick my fingers at least four times a day, to test my blood glucose, and inject myself multiple times a day. I was terrified of needles, so it turned my life upside down and I struggled to come to terms with it. I suppose I was also angry with the unfairness of it all.”

Being diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager can affect your self-esteem and mental health, says Laura. “I was very conscious of other people’s opinions and wanted to fit in with the crowd,” she says. “I was embarrassed to inject myself in front of anyone, even though I knew regular injections were vital for my health.”

Becoming confident about your diabetes management Yet after a couple of years, Laura — now 25 — grew more confident about her diabetes management routine and began to accept her situation and be more open about it. “Diabetes is relentless,” she admits. “There’s a real pressure to maintain your glucose levels at a good range — and that can be really draining.”

Her advice to anyone in a similar situation is simple. “You have to give yourself a break sometimes,” she says. “I know you can’t switch off from diabetes, but it helps to accept that you can’t be perfect all the time. Sometimes you need to think: ‘I’ll do better tomorrow’ and reflect on what you could have done differently.”

After a rocky start, Laura has accepted that diabetes management is part of her life and doesn’t let it interfere with the things she wants to do. For example, after university, she had no qualms about travelling to Australia and New Zealand. “When I was younger, I was frightened that diabetes might stop me living my life,” she says. “Now, with experience, I realise it absolutely won’t.”

I know you can’t switch off from diabetes, but it helps to accept that you can’t be perfect all the time.

YOU CAN DO IT

Glucos monito that wo with yo

ANYTIME1, ANYWHERE2

FreeStyle Libre 2 s monitor your gluco levels day and nigh without finger pric

Find out more at FreeStyleLibre.co.uk

ALARM. SCA

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Not actual patient or data. 1. 60-minute warm-up required when applying the sensor. 2. Sensor is water resistant in up to 1 metre (3 feet) of water for a maximum of 30 minutes. Do not immerse longer than 30 minutes. Not to be used above 10,000 feet. 3. Finger pricks are required if glucose readings and alarms do not match symptoms or expectations. © 2021 Abbott. FreeStyle, Libre, and related brand marks are marks of Abbott. ADC-40195 v1.0 06/21.

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How game-changing tech is revolutionising diabetes care New innovations in glucose monitoring technology are making painful finger-prick testing a thing of the past.

It’s been a game-changer for those living with diabetes.

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echnology has revolutionised the way Laura Yates manages her diabetes. A year ago, she was testing her glucose levels with finger-prick tests, four or five times every day. Now a Flash glucose monitoring system monitors her levels easily and painlessly while she’s on the go, giving her a new sense of freedom.

“From diagnosis until fairly recently, I’ve had to fingerprick test regularly throughout the day,” says Laura, who is living with type 1 diabetes. “When you start finger-prick testing, it can be painful — but I quickly got used to that.

For me, the main problem was the inconvenience because I’d have to take time out, wash my hands, and use my finger stick device and glucose meter to carry out the test. This is especially annoying when out and about.”

These days, Laura — who works for agri-comms agency Pinstone, when she’s not helping on her parents’ farm — receives a glucose reading simply by scanning a sensor on the back of her upper arm. “I only started using Flash glucose monitoring in March of last year, but it’s been a game-changer for me,” she says. “I wish I’d started using it sooner. I paid for it myself on a trial period for six months, but now I’m gratefully receiving it on NHS prescription.

When we’re busy on the farm, it’s so much quicker to test my glucose levels with a quick scan, without needing to leave the task in hand.”

Overcoming confidence issues Laura believes that Flash glucose monitoring can help people with diabetes who are struggling with opening up about their condition, because it’s so discreet. “I’ve accepted that diabetes isn’t something to be ashamed of” she says.

She did have initial concerns about the sensor, however.

“I used to think: ‘I don’t want anything visible on me that shouts out I have health problems’, but I’ve embraced the technology and how amazingly clever it is.”

Images provided by Laura Yates

I’ve accepted that diabetes isn’t something to be ashamed of” she says.

The sensor is scanned using either a reader or an app on a phone, Laura receives a notification if her glucose goes above or drops below a certain level, prompting her to take corrective action.

Embracing future innovations The next stage for Laura would be a closed-loop system, where data is sent directly to a pump which would calculate and then automatically deliver the amount of insulin she needs. “An insulin pump that interacts with my sensor would do away with regular injections and make my diabetes management even easier,” she reveals. “The positive experience I’ve had with the Flash glucose monitor has encouraged me to try other innovations.”

Read more at healthawareness .co.uk

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Changing lives through research- investing in type 1 diabetes research

How diabetes care has changed with the use of innovative technology WRITTEN BY Professor Pratik Choudhary Professor of Diabetes University of Leicester and Chair, Diabetes Technology Network - UK

Connected devices measuring glucose, activity and insulin delivery have changed interactions between people with diabetes and health care professionals.

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t’s 100 years since the discovery of insulin converted type 1 diabetes from a death sentence into a condition that people can live with. However, living with type 1 diabetes can be a relentless job, having to work out how food, activity and stress levels affect glucose levels and adjusting insulin doses multiple times a day.

The roll out of innovative technology, such as Flash glucose monitors, has banished finger-pricks to the history books for many people and halved the number of admissions to hospital for very high and very low glucose levels.

New tech like closed loop systems work like “cruise-control” and use sensors to measure glucose continuously and adjust the amount of insulin given in real-time to keep blood glucose levels in a healthy range.

These technologies are the closest thing to a cure that we have at present, using the power of data to help people with diabetes live as close to a normal life as possible.

The COVID-19 pandemic has really transformed the way we as doctors connect with our patients.

We know that investing in the research that matters to people with type 1 diabetes is key, along with ensuring that the benefits of new technologies reach the people who need it most.

The connected world The COVID-19 pandemic has really transformed the way we as doctors connect with our patients. We are now connecting with our patients virtually, using telephone and video clinics. We have worked out how to do complex interventions, like starting insulin pumps remotely, something we would not have thought of doing before the pandemic.

Through these virtual clinics, we have been able to connect with patients who sometimes were not able to come to hospital and allow patients to have their appointment from their workplace or home. At the same time, by using data uploaded into the cloud from these connected devices, we can review and support more people remotely and target our resources to those who need them the most.

The power of data The real value of this digital transformation is the power of data.

These connected devices continually upload data into the cloud. This data can be used to support people with advice in real-time, providing advice needed in real time to people with diabetes and reducing the need for regular time-consuming follow ups.

Ultimately, until we find a cure, these technological solutions will go a huge way in enabling people with diabetes to live their lives as they want to.

T WRITTEN BY Conor McKeever Research Communications Manager, JDRF, Type 1 diabetes charity

en years ago, people with type 1 diabetes told us, through the James Lind Alliance’s Priority Setting Partnership (PSP), that the development of an effective artificial pancreas system was a top priority for improving their lives. Today, the artificial pancreas has moved from research to reality.

An artificial pancreas uses existing technology for managing type 1 diabetes - an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM). But it also adds an algorithm, which tells the pump how much insulin to deliver based on blood glucose readings it takes from the CGM. The algorithm thus automates the bulk of the large number of decisions that people with type 1 diabetes have to make every day - significantly relieving the burden of managing the condition.

Investing in research Since 2006, we have been conducting international research into the artificial pancreas, investing a total of £90 million and bringing together brilliant minds. The clear appetite for this technology from people with type 1 diabetes, highlighted by the PSP, galvanised us even more.

In 2020, JDRF-funded research led by Professor Roman Hovorka at University of Cambridge made the breakthrough and the world’s first downloadable artificial pancreas app was launched. This enabled people with type 1 diabetes to manage the artificial pancreas from their mobile phone, a development described by people using it as ‘life-changing’ and even ‘magic’.

Since its launch, we have been working to make this potentially life-changing technology available to everybody with type 1 diabetes who needs it - regardless of postcode, economic status, ethnicity or other factors. Now available in 30 NHS locations across England, we continue to work with partners to broaden access across the UK.

RESTORE INTIMACY NATURALLY

Guardian Understanding Diabetes Third Branding - SOMAerect - iMEDicare.indd 2

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Very low-calorie diets can be key to type 2 diabetes remission After just two weeks of eating very low-calorie diet (VLCD) meal replacements, Lindsey Hilsum found she had reversed her type 2 diabetes to such an extent her doctor said she could stop injecting insulin.

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INTERVIEW WITH Lindsey Hilsum exante customer WRITTEN BY Janet Fricker

Paid for by exante

’d been on insulin for 15 years and had thought my type 2 diabetes was a life sentence,” says Lindsey, aged 64 from Greenhithe, Kent.

At just 5 ft. 1 inches tall and weighing 16 stone, she knew her weight was responsible. “I’d tried every diet under the sun. I’d lose a stone, then put it straight back on,” says Lyndsey, a retired bank worker, who was injecting herself three times a day and taking six different medications.

COVID-19 provides wake-up call Last year Lindsey got a wake-up call when she read type 2 diabetes doubled the risk of dying from COVID-19, but remembered the work of Professor Roy Taylor, from University of Newcastle, who had shown a strict diet of 800 calories a day could reverse type 2 diabetes.

Vowing to give it a go, Lindsey got clearance from her consultant (who adjusted her insulin to fit with low calorie intakes) and started planning VLCD meals. “But weighing everything out was a hassle and eating normal foods just tempted me to eat more,” says Lindsey, who after four days switched to meal replacements.

Inspiring weight loss From a list of VLCD products recommended by Professor Taylor, Lindsey selected the exante 800 plan, attracted by

the wide choice of flavours and value. “I immediately felt more satisfied, despite eating exactly the same number of calories,” says Lindsey, who’s daily 800 kcal allowance consisted of two meal replacements of 200 kcals each (usually a shake or soup), a 200 kcal home prepared meal, and 200 kcal Meal Replacement Bar. Lindsey felt reassured she was not missing out on any vital nutrients as meals contained 27 vitamins and minerals.

Since starting the meal replacements last October Lindsey has lost five and a half stone, and now weighs nine and a half stone. Her BMI has dropped from 39.4 to just over 25 and her dress size from 24 to 12. “I’m like a different person but regret not starting sooner and being overweight for so long,” says Lindsey, adding that she is thrilled her success has inspired her son William and 10 of her friends to give the plan a go. exante always recommends talking to a doctor or medical professional before using their products and plans to help you lose weight.

exante is a market leading diet and wellbeing brand in the UK meal replacement space. It is a simple and convenient weight loss solution that can help people with type 2 diabetes manage their weight. Read more at exantediet.com

How an updatable insulin pump changed my life Andy explains why, when the time came to change his insulin pump, he chose an updatable pump and how its ground-breaking technology has changed his life.

A INTERVIEW WITH Andy Lavender Insulin pump user

WRITTEN BY Linda Whitney

fter 53 years living with type 1 diabetes, Andy Lavender says: “A tiny little box has changed my life.”

Andy was diagnosed aged two. “As a child I remember screaming as dad held me down while mum injected my insulin with a needle that felt like a six-inch nail. I ate specific food at set times, even if that meant leaving my school classroom.”

“If I had been told that by now a small device could manage my basal levels continuously, I’d have said you’d been watching too much Star Trek!”

Andy, now an information portal coordinator for the NHS, progressed from measuring his blood glucose by pricking his finger up to 12 times

I’d been on insulin for 15 years and had thought my type 2 diabetes was a life sentence.

daily to using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system linked to an insulin pump, meaning no more finger prick testing. When the time came for a new pump, Andy chose the t:slim X2™insulin pump.

“I chose it because it could communicate with the type of CGM sensors I already used, but it turned out to be the biggest change in my life with diabetes to date,” says Andy.

“It’s an advanced hybrid closed loop system, so the CGM shares information with the pump, meaning my pump can automatically adjust for diet, or even the weather – a hot day can change your blood sugar levels, so it makes managing diabetes much easier.”

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Life-changing technology without needing a new pump Andy says: “My insulin pump allows you to remotely update features via a computer download, the first pump of its kind available in the UK. Now I don’t have to wait the four years required by the NHS to get a new pump with updated features – I can access enhanced technology as and when it becomes available.”

The most recent update was the Control-IQ™ technology algorithm, designed to help increase users’ time within their optimum blood glucose range.

“It’s been life-changing” says Andy. “Before, my 14-day average time in range was mostly acceptable but that took a lot of input from me, with Control-IQ technology my time in range is well in excess of 72% every single day - and for one week I averaged 100%! My dietician had told me this was almost impossible.”

Andy can also monitor his glucose levels in real time and the algorithm predicts future levels and alters insulin doses to suit.

“I still go motorcycling and take the dogs walking by the river so its life as normal, but now I have this pump everything feels easier and safer.

There was always that concern about a sudden unexpected hypo, for both me and my wife Sue, but the technology makes life with diabetes easier.”

Paid for by Air Liquide Healthcare

Find out more at makingdiabetes easier.com/uk

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07

Patient story

How my weight loss success is reducing diabetes risk Grandmother Sue Foster has lost more than six stone in weight in a determined fight against her diabetes.

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ue Foster has come a long way in the last three years.

Living with obesity and diabetes, she put on more weight following the death of her husband Anthony in March 2018. It wasn’t until just before Christmas 2019 she went to hospital, at around 20 stone and with a sky-high glycated haemoglobin (or HbA1c) measure of 85.

Healthy diet Two months later, the former nurse from Rochdale, stopped living off meal deals, joined WW (Weight Watchers reimagined) and switched to a healthy diet of wholewheat rice and pasta, fish, chicken, fruit and vegetables and cut out alcohol.

Just over a year later, she is significantly lighter at 11 stone 9lbs with her HbA1c a moderate 41.

Sue, 58, even overcame the setback of having a malignant melanoma removed from her arm and a heart scare to stay on track with her diet.

Dog walking She has stopped her blood pressure medication because of the weight loss and is hopeful to come off her diabetes medication in the next few months.

“I am feeling so much healthier,” she says. “Once I started losing weight, I actually liked what I saw in the mirror, it was nice to feel like me again.”

And she’s exercising too, courtesy of Brian, a golden retriever and poodle cross who ensures she walks 15,000-20,000 steps without discomfort.

“Before I could not even walk down street without being out of breath and feeling pain in my joints,” she said. “I feel so much better mentally and physically, although I do miss my husband terribly, but I would not have been able to do it without WW.”

INTERVIEW WITH

Susan Foster A NDPP success story WRITTEN BY

Mark Nicholls

Want to know about your risk?

To find out go to ww.com/uk/diabetes-risk-assessment and take WW’s Know Your Risk Tool. The plan can be accessed through referral via your local GP or nurse.

Please consult with your health care professional before trying to lose a significant amount of weight for advice and support.

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How you can change your lifestyle to help tackle diabetes risk Paid for by WW

Losing weight can help people with diabetes tackle their condition and improve their overall health.

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here is clear evidence that obesity is a direct risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and steady and sustainable weight loss can reduce the risk, or even reverse the condition. Experts advocate a plan of healthy eating combined with regular exercise.

Diabetes risk Figures show that 67% of men and 60% of women are overweight or obese, giving an indication of the scale of the diabetes risk across the UK. Jo Measures, Head of Health Solutions at WW (Weight Watchers reimagined), says: “The clinical evidence is very clear; we know that if somebody is overweight or obese but change their diet and get more physically active, then they can push back that risk of developing the disease.

“If they have type 2 diabetes already then through losing weight, if they need to, being more physically active and changing their diet, they can put the condition into remission.”

The growing weight epidemic has become a public health crisis but The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, a collaboration between NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK is helping tackle that, with WW one of the partner providers in the scheme.

explains Measures. “We also know people living with obesity are twice as likely to be hospitalised

by COVID-19.”

People can lose weight by eating less, eating differently, and exercising but she warned it is not a “short-term fix.”

“The diabetes prevention programme lasts nine months, because clinical evidence points to that being the amount of time it takes for people to improve their lifestyle, develop those behaviour change techniques and develop new habits,” she adds.

Individual tastes The plan also includes the importance of looking after mental as well as physical health, drinking more water and getting better sleep.

She emphasises that a ‘diet’ is about understanding individual tastes and cultural and economic factors and tailoring nutritional plans to suit lifestyles.

With people from ethnic groups genetically more pre-disposed to type 2 diabetes, an emphasis is on reaching those sectors of the community and also men, who make up approximately a third of all participants on the programme.

Figures show that 67% of men and 60% of women are overweight or obese, giving an indication of the scale of the diabetes risk across the UK.

Eating differently Type 2 diabetes is a condition that can have severe consequences. “It can lead to sores and infections in the feet and ultimately lead to lower limb amputations, for example, heart and kidney disease

INTERVIEW WITH Jo Measures Head of Health Solutions, WW WRITTEN BY

Mark Nicholls

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