My Diabetes My Way: June 2024 Update
Welcome to the My Diabetes My Way Newsletter for June 2024.
Managing Diabetes in Summer
June, with its longer day length and better weather means that thoughts may turn to summer holidays. Having diabetes means that you must be organised for your holiday, whether it is a staycation or a trip abroad. Planning a trip away is always part of the fun but you need to be aware of the documentation that you should have with you if you need to carry diabetes supplies, and it is advisable to get this organised in plenty of time. The most important documents to take with you are your diabetes travel letter (your Healthcare professional can print this out for you), your repeat prescription detailing the supplies you need (if appropriate), and your UK GHIC card if you are travelling abroad. You can find more details and a checklist for planning your travel here:
Preparing to Travel: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/internal/preparing-to-travel/
Travel Documentation: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/internal/travel-documentation/
If your journey involves air travel across various time zones, then you will need to think about the times that you will be eating and taking medication, particularly if you are prescribed insulin. You can find lots more information regarding changing timing of your medication at the links below:
Travel Plans: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/internal/travel-plans/
Time Zones and Insulin: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/internal/time-zones-and-insulin/
While away, you will need to be aware of food hygiene, particularly if you are visiting less developed countries. Knowing the effects on blood sugar when you are ill is important and you should take a copy of your Sick Day Rules with you. You also should be aware of the effects of dehydration or too much sun: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/internal/staying-well-when-away-from-home/
Being organised means that you can go on holiday safely and enjoy your break!
My Diabetes My Way Patient Advisory Group
Our Patient Advisory Group is actively seeking new members to join them. You can contribute to the strategic direction of My Diabetes My Way, help us prioritise developments and ensure that everyone can easily find the information they require to effectively manage their diabetes. If you are interested in joining this group, please email mydiabetes.myway@nhs.scot to let us know. For more information, please see the following message from Interim Chair, Dave Garrell: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/for-you/news/my-diabetes-my-way-patient-advisory-group/
Diabetes Awareness Week
Diabetes Awareness Week is an annual event organised by the charity Diabetes UK, and it is dedicated to the millions of people who manage and live with diabetes every day. This year it takes place from 10th to 16th June and the theme is ensuring people get their health checks at the appropriate times in order to minimise the risk of complications. Everyone should be aware of the annual checks they require and should make every effort to attend their screening appointments. Throughout Diabetes Awareness Week, we will be publishing some interesting facts about diabetes in Scotland and beyond on our website.
One Million Step Challenge
Diabetes UK launch their "One Million Step Challenge" in July. The aim is to get people active over the next three months with a target of reaching one million steps by the end of September. If you can, you’ll need to take an average of nearly 11,000 steps a day to reach the target. How you do them and where you do them is completely up to you. Find out more at: https://step.diabetes.org.uk
If you have a Fitbit activity tracker and intend to take part in the challenge, you can link your Fitbit account to your My Diabetes My Way account. This allows you to add your Fitbit data to My Diabetes My Way and monitor your progress in the challenge. To get started, log in to My Diabetes My Way and select “My Services”. You can then link your Fitbit account and connect your Fitbit records. When you do this, you will see a new section named “My Activity” where you can monitor your steps, heart rate and many other Fitbit measurements.
Even if you don't own a Fitbit device, you can still track your activity for free by downloading the Fitbit app on your smartphone and using Fitbit’s MobileTrack function. MobileTrack lets you use the Fitbit app without a Fitbit device by using your phone's sensors to track basic activity data including steps, distance, and calories burned. More information on MobileTrack can be found here: https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1875
International Men’s Health Week
International Men’s Health week also runs from 10th to 16th June this year. This week is designed to give boys and men access to the information, services and treatment they need to lead healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives. Traditionally, men have been less proactive than women regarding both their physical and mental wellbeing and should be encouraged to attend their GP practice for regular screening checks. One way of improving both physical and mental wellbeing is to increase exercise where possible, so we would encourage everyone to consider taking part in the One Million Step Challenge. For more information on Men’s Health Week, visit the Men’s Health Forum website: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw
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
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.