Coronavirus: Advice for people living with diabetes
16 June 2020
Here are some helpful tips on what precautions you should take, and what you need to know The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that spread of the coronavirus as a pandemic in March, and and most countries have seen outbreaks. Although the UK is seeing a decline in the number of new cases and hospitalisations, we all still need to be careful and try to reduce the spread of the virus as much as possible. People with diabetes are classed by the NHS and UK Government as 'clinically vulnerable' Although this means someone with diabetes is not required to shield themselves, they are...
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What is structured blood glucose monitoring?
22 August 2019
Structured monitoring supports your routine or daily checking by giving you deeper, more targeted data to work from. It can help you determine if you're in a safe range and problem-solve around how the things you do are connected to your blood sugar. You simply perform additional checks over a short period at specific times of day. Structured monitoring tools can help you: Discover how to best use your numbers See how certain activities can affect your blood sugar levels...
Read More
Trouble-free travelling with your insulin pump
5 August 2019
Planning a trip when you have to remember essential diabetes kit can be time consuming, so we thought some travel tips and advice might come in handy. Travel checklist Remember to pack the following for your trip: Plenty of cannula and infusion sets Batteries and battery key Insulin vials (quick acting) Insulin cartridges for pump and pen Insulin pens and needles Test strips and lancets Emergency contact details Carbohydrate to treat hypos Travel letter form hospital diabetes team (or GP) explaining...
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Get prepared for festival season
24 July 2019
Bastiaan likes to visit festivals. He always prepares well, so that he can enjoy the day. He wears a sensor that can alert him all day long if a hypo or hyper is lurking. This way he can listen to the music and dance without any worries. "It is especially important at a festival that you keep an eye on everything, so that you can fully enjoy the experience" - Bastiaan “For me, the summer in Amsterdam is all about having a drink on the terrace, swimming in the Amstel, sunbathing in the park but above...
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Why knowing more can lead to better management
4 July 2019
Ever since we were born, most of us were hard wired to pester the adults around us with one simple, repetitive question: WHY? Don't touch that. Why? Eat your vegetables. Why? Do your homework. Why? We're born to wonder, explore and question. Have you ever noticed that the better you understand something—causes and effects, opportunities and limits—the easier it can be to take on challenges, make good decisions and change things to suit your needs? Often, a better understanding of “why” can help motivate us to follow guidelines and advice. Living with diabetes...
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What is Type 2 diabetes and how is it linked to obesity?
25 June 2019
Type 2 diabetes represents around 90% of people with diabetes1. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the body cannot properly use the insulin it does create. Eventually, the pancreas may stop producing insulin altogether. Type 2 diabetes can affect people at any age. Type 2 diabetes can develop slowly and the signs may not be obvious. Additional risk factors or characteristics for Type 2 diabetes include: Age – being over 40 can increase your risk If you have or had high blood pressure Family history of diabetes History...
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Are you avoiding these 10 common diabetes mistakes?
18 June 2019
Perhaps not all the time, and maybe not all at once, but it seems like just about everyone experiences these pitfalls now and then. How about you? Thinking of BG results as "good" or "bad." If we could all just reframe the conversation to think in terms of high, low and in-range, we could be a lot less tough on ourselves. Not changing your lancet every time you check (or even every week!) The tip of a new needle is sharp and precisely...
Read More
What is HbA1c?
10 June 2019
The HbA1c test is a type of blood test for people with diabetes measures average blood sugar (glucose) over 2-3 months. It gives a longer term view of your blood sugar levels vs. finger prick: how much sugar is in your blood sugar right now.
Read More
The importance of sleep for a healthy lifestyle - part 2
13 May 2019
The aim of part 1 was to understand sleep and its relationship with our health. If achieving 7-9 hours of sleep seems a distant dream (excuse the pun), why not try the following top tips to make dreams become reality!
Read MorePages
What is structured blood glucose monitoring?
22 August 2019
Structured monitoring supports your routine or daily checking by giving you deeper, more targeted data to work from. It can help you determine if you're in a safe range and problem-solve around how the things you do are connected to your blood sugar. You simply perform additional checks over a short period at specific times of day. Structured monitoring tools can help you: Discover how to best use your numbers See how certain activities can affect your blood sugar levels...
Read More
Trouble-free travelling with your insulin pump
5 August 2019
Planning a trip when you have to remember essential diabetes kit can be time consuming, so we thought some travel tips and advice might come in handy. Travel checklist Remember to pack the following for your trip: Plenty of cannula and infusion sets Batteries and battery key Insulin vials (quick acting) Insulin cartridges for pump and pen Insulin pens and needles Test strips and lancets Emergency contact details Carbohydrate to treat hypos Travel letter form hospital diabetes team (or GP) explaining...
Read More
Get prepared for festival season
24 July 2019
Bastiaan likes to visit festivals. He always prepares well, so that he can enjoy the day. He wears a sensor that can alert him all day long if a hypo or hyper is lurking. This way he can listen to the music and dance without any worries. "It is especially important at a festival that you keep an eye on everything, so that you can fully enjoy the experience" - Bastiaan “For me, the summer in Amsterdam is all about having a drink on the terrace, swimming in the Amstel, sunbathing in the park but above...
Read More Why knowing more can lead to better management
4 July 2019
Ever since we were born, most of us were hard wired to pester the adults around us with one simple, repetitive question: WHY? Don't touch that. Why? Eat your vegetables. Why? Do your homework. Why? We're born to wonder, explore and question. Have you ever noticed that the better you understand something—causes and effects, opportunities and limits—the easier it can be to take on challenges, make good decisions and change things to suit your needs? Often, a better understanding of “why” can help motivate us to follow guidelines and advice. Living with diabetes...
Read More
What is Type 2 diabetes and how is it linked to obesity?
25 June 2019
Type 2 diabetes represents around 90% of people with diabetes1. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the body cannot properly use the insulin it does create. Eventually, the pancreas may stop producing insulin altogether. Type 2 diabetes can affect people at any age. Type 2 diabetes can develop slowly and the signs may not be obvious. Additional risk factors or characteristics for Type 2 diabetes include: Age – being over 40 can increase your risk If you have or had high blood pressure Family history of diabetes History...
Read More
Are you avoiding these 10 common diabetes mistakes?
18 June 2019
Perhaps not all the time, and maybe not all at once, but it seems like just about everyone experiences these pitfalls now and then. How about you? Thinking of BG results as "good" or "bad." If we could all just reframe the conversation to think in terms of high, low and in-range, we could be a lot less tough on ourselves. Not changing your lancet every time you check (or even every week!) The tip of a new needle is sharp and precisely...
Read More
What is HbA1c?
10 June 2019
The HbA1c test is a type of blood test for people with diabetes measures average blood sugar (glucose) over 2-3 months. It gives a longer term view of your blood sugar levels vs. finger prick: how much sugar is in your blood sugar right now.
Read More The importance of sleep for a healthy lifestyle - part 2
13 May 2019
The aim of part 1 was to understand sleep and its relationship with our health. If achieving 7-9 hours of sleep seems a distant dream (excuse the pun), why not try the following top tips to make dreams become reality!
Read More