My Diabetes My Way: August 2024 Update

Welcome to the My Diabetes My Way Newsletter for August 2024.

Enter Your Home Data
When you log in to access your records on My Diabetes My Way, you are able to add measurements you have recorded at home. If you measure your weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose or cholesterol, then you can add this data to your diabetes record. This means you don't have to keep paper lists or spreadsheets and means that all of your diabetes information is held in the same place.

You can also set goals for these measurements, along with HbA1c and smoking status. For example, if you smoke and want to quit over the next few months, set a target date and work towards it. Similarly, if you would like to lose some weight or improve your blood pressure, you can log these goals too. Go to the “My Home Data” section within your record to get started.

Advice when Leaving Home
Have you received your exam results and looking forward to leaving home and going off to College or University? This may be your first time living away from home and having to be solely responsible for managing your diabetes. You will need to be prepared whether you are living in halls of residence, a shared flat or travelling daily to lectures. It may be difficult to tell new friends about your diabetes, but it is essential that someone knows so that they can help you if you require treatment for a hyper- or hypoglycaemic event.

You can revise your diabetes by checking out the information sections on the My Diabetes My Way website or participate in some online training. Registering with a local GP practice if you are living away from home is very important so that you continue to receive your diabetes supplies on a repeat prescription. You can normally choose to have your diabetes care at a hospital close to where you are living.

Student life can be fun but remembering to eat a healthy balanced diet and keeping your blood sugar stable means that you can get the most out of your time away from home. There is lots more information regarding moving away from home and your diabetes at the following link: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/young-adults

Free Online Diabetes Course - Understanding Type 1 Diabetes
My Way Digital Health have a free online course running on 28th and 29th August. This course is all about Understanding Type 1 Diabetes. On Day 1, it will cover the basics like diagnosis, treatment, and insulin details. Day 2 goes deeper into complications and how they affect the body. The course will also talk about daily life aspects, like travel and lifestyle choices. Plus, there are live Question and Answer sessions with healthcare experts to improve learning. Registration is now open at the following link: https://understandingtype1.mydiabetes.com/

Latest Diabetes Research
Over the summer, many healthcare professionals will have been attending international conferences to learn about the latest research and developments in diabetes care and treatments. One of these conferences, The American Diabetes Association scientific conference had exciting news about a company who has managed to grow pancreatic beta cells from stem cells. These cells had been transplanted into a very small number of patients and their diabetes control has improved significantly and their insulin requirements had decreased. More details about this clinical trial, and some of the other research presented at the conference are available here: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/news-and-views/breaking-research-news-american-diabetes-association

It must be noted that all this research is at a very early stage and needs to go through a very rigorous process before it is available to patients. If you are interested in participating in diabetes research or medical research in general, you can find more details at the following links:

Scottish Diabetes Research Register: https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/research-areas/diabetes/get-involved

SHARE – The Scottish Health Register and Biobank: https://www.registerforshare.org/

Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
Please remember, you can keep up-to-date with the latest news and useful information on the My Diabetes My Way Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) pages.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mydiabetesmyway
X (formerly Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/mydiabetesmyway

Help and Support
If you have not yet managed to gain access to your diabetes records on My Diabetes My Way, or would like an update on the status of your registration, please let us know. You can contact us regarding any problems or request further help and support by emailing: mydiabetes.myway@nhs.scot

Thank you for your continued support.