Diabetes occurs when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood becomes too high. Normally, after we eat, various foods are broken down in the gut into sugars which are then absorbed into the body. The main sugar is called glucose. To remain healthy, your blood glucose level should not go too high or too low. A hormone called insulin helps to take glucose from the bloodstream into various cells of the body. This helps to keep the blood sugar normal.
Insulin is made by special cells in the pancreas. In Type 2 diabetes, the commonest form, you either: do not make enough insulin for your body`s needs, and/or the cells in your body are not able to use the insulin properly. .) Type 2 diabetes usually first develops after the age of 40. It tends to run in families. It is more common in people who are overweight. It is also more common in African, Afro-Caribbean and Asian people.
What are the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes?
Symptoms tend to develop quite slowly, over weeks or months. They include: excess thirst, passing large amounts of urine, tiredness, weight loss, and feeling generally unwell.
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What care you should receive from the practice – The Team
We are part of the Year of Care Diabetes Project we aim to offer an exemplary service to our patients around their Diabetic care.
What is Year of Care?
Year of Care is based on introducing a care planning approach. It involves people with diabetes working with those delivering their care to make joint decisions and agree how their diabetes will be managed. This creates an opportunity for you to feel more in control of your diabetes.
So what does it mean for you?
Before your appointment:
You will be asked to attend the surgery about two weeks before your yearly diabetes appointment to have all your checks done. This will be with our Practice Nurse.
These results will be sent to you before your yearly diabetes appointment. This will give you the chance to be able to think about what the results mean to you and what you might want to discuss. The results are in a traffic light system format Green, Amber, Red this is explained in the letter.
At your yearly appointment:
You will be seen by our Physician Assistant Pauline Boland who has a special interest in Diabetes and is the practice lead for this condition. You will be able to discuss your results and talk about what is important to you. You will both have an opportunity to raise concerns, talk about risks and explore what options may be available for you to help to manage and cope with your diabetes.
By the end of your appointment you will have a plan that has been agreed jointly this is called your Care or Action Plan.
Recommended Tests for Diabetic Patients
Examination
- Smoking status, and all patients who smoke to be advised to stop.
- Weight and BMI checked
- Foot check including an assessment of foot pulses and sensation
- Eye test by approved tester, currently the Homerton hospital.
- Blood pressure, aiming for a level of 145/85 or less
Blood tests
- HBA1c to assess diabetic control. Aiming for a level of 7.4 or less.
- Cholesterol level, aiming for a level of 5 or less.
- Serum creatinine as a measure of kidney function
Urine Tests
Microalbumin ratio as a measure of kidney function
Vaccination
All patients should have the flu jab in autumn
