A healthy lifestyle is the key to controlling the impact diabetes can have on someone’s life, a specialist team have said.
Specialists at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are highlighting the risks of a poor diet and lifestyle and action to take if anyone has symptoms.
Sue Jones, a senior consultant doctor, leads regular diabetes outpatient clinics and treats inpatients across the organisation.
One in five inpatients treated at the organisation have diabetes, which is a caused when people have too much sugar in their blood.
Speaking from her clinic at the University Hospital of Hartlepool last week, she said: “Around 20 per cent of our in-patients are diabetic – a significant number which shows the impact this can have on people’s health.
“For someone with diabetes, getting control of your blood sugar level is so important. Sugar control for our inpatients means a shorter hospital stay and improved health outcomes.
“It’s about managing it, making changes and fitting the demands of it into your lifestyle.”
The organisation has a specialist team which help patients with a range of diabetes-related conditions such as foot problems and help for women who are pregnant.
Anne Quincey, a specialist nurse, said: “Diabetes affects so many different people.
“We see lots gestational women – this is high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy.
“The key to managing it is having a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet.”
Foot issues caused by diabetes
The service’s podiatry team help patients with foot conditions developed through poor blood circulation which diabetes can cause.
Specialised podiatrist Christine Cass-Evans said: “We want to urge people with diabetes not to ignore their feet.
“If you have any issues, however small, you must visit your GP and have them checked. If they do need treatment, patients are referred to our team and we can immediately help treat the issue.”
