My Diabetes My Way: October 2024 Update

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

Health Literacy Month
October is Health Literacy Month across the world. When you understand what is going on with your diabetes, you can make better decisions around your care and treatment. Diabetes is a condition that you have to live with every day. Most people with diabetes only see a healthcare professional for a short time each year, so it is important that everyone feels empowered to deal with it. There are lots of ways to learn about diabetes, from structured education from a healthcare professional to online training using our courses: https://elearning.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/courses/

There are also lots of resources in the Information section of My Diabetes My Way. This is always being updated and the more you understand your diabetes, the better your appointment with your healthcare professional will be. Write your questions down so that you don’t forget to ask. Have a look at the main sections of our information website here: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/know-more/

MyWay Digital Health are running their Understanding Type 2 Diabetes course on the 6th and 7th November 2024. You’ll find something for everyone, whether you’re a person with diabetes, a healthcare professional, or a family member looking to learn more about Type 2 diabetes. The course also contains culturalised dietary information for Black African, South Asian and Arabic communities. You can join us on the 6th and 7th of November 2024 from 6-7 pm (GMT) for live Q&A sessions on Zoom with our diabetes experts. The link to register for this course can be found here: https://understandingtype2.mydiabetes.com/

World Diabetes Day 2024
World Diabetes Day takes place this year on 14th November and the theme is “Diabetes and well-being”. Millions of people with diabetes face daily challenges managing their condition at home, work, and school. They must be resilient, organised, and responsible, which can impact both physical and mental well-being. This World Diabetes Day let’s put well-being at the heart of diabetes care and start the change for a better diabetes life. More information can be found here: https://worlddiabetesday.org/

Latest Diabetes Research
Last month saw diabetes researchers gathering for the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference to present their findings. There is a link to some of the research results here: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/news-and-views/type-1-risk-factors-voice-screening-type-2-research-highlights-september-2024

One of the most interesting findings was that a child is nearly twice as likely to develop Type 1 diabetes if their father has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, rather than their mother. It is thought that exposure to Type 1 diabetes in the womb gives some sort of protection for the child. If you are planning a pregnancy, or are newly pregnant, please get in touch with your healthcare team as soon as possible as blood sugars targets during pregnancy are tighter than normal to ensure a successful outcome. People with Type 1 or 2 will have more scans and appointments whilst pregnant, to ensure that their baby is growing normally and there are no complications.

Most children diagnosed with diabetes in the UK have Type 1 diabetes but there is now an increasing number who are diagnosed with Type 2. While there is a lot of information for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes, there is not so much for those whose child is diagnosed with Type 2. Diabetes UK have some information for parents of children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the following link: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/living-with-diabetes/life-with-diabetes/children-and-diabetes/type-2

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.