My Diabetes My Way: October 2026 update


Welcome to the My Diabetes My Way newsletter for October 2026.


National Cholesterol Month
Each October is designated as National Cholesterol Month, with the aim to increase awareness of cholesterol levels and the part they play in cardiovascular disease – a term used to refer to conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. As cardiovascular disease is a complication of diabetes, it is important that cholesterol levels are managed. The target total cholesterol level in someone with diabetes is less than 4 mmol, with an HDL-cholesterol of at least 1 mmol.

When cholesterol is measured in a blood sample, different fractions make up the total. Usually, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides are directly measured and LDL-cholesterol is then calculated using a formula. HDL-cholesterol is the ‘happy’ cholesterol which is involved in keeping veins and arteries smooth on the inside so that blood can flow freely through. LDL-cholesterol is ’bad’ and narrows the veins and arteries making them become roughened on the inside. This roughened lining can allow blood clots to attach themselves to the lining of the blood vessel and potentially cause heart attack or stroke.

The recommendations that healthcare teams work to, known as the SIGN guidelines, say that all patients with diabetes over the age of 40 years should be prescribed a cholesterol-lowering medication, usually a statin. Those patients with diabetes and under 40 years old but have been diagnosed for at least 20 years or have any microvascular complications (microalbuminuria, retinopathy or neuropathy) should also be prescribed a statin.

Statin medication, such as Atorvastatin or Rosuvastatin, is best taken at bedtime so it can work overnight and should not be taken with grapefruit juice as this interferes with its absorption. More information about cholesterol levels and statins at the links below:


International Adolescent Health Week
12th-18th October is International Adolescent Health Week. Adolescence can be a particularly challenging time for children growing up with diabetes. Often the child’s parents have been managing their diabetes and ensuring that blood sugar is kept under control but as children transition into adulthood and gain more independence, diabetes can be much more difficult to manage. Changing hormone levels can have a significant effect on blood sugars from a physical point of view and the ability to choose dietary intake means that the young adult has to learn about healthy eating habits. More information is available at the links below:


Dental Health and Diabetes
There has been interest in the medical world about the link between dental health and diabetes, in particular the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis. Periodontitis is a bacterial gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the supporting bone around your teeth. Having diabetes increases the risk of periodontitis and having periodontitis increases the risk of diabetes. There is still very limited literature on this link, but you may have been aware that healthcare teams often ask patients to see their dentists and have any work done on their teeth before certain surgeries or procedures e.g. heart surgery or some chemotherapy treatments. More information can be found at the links below:


My Life App
Many patients use the My Life app to calculate their carbohydrate intake and their dose of fast acting insulin to take at mealtimes. Unfortunately, this app is being withdrawn by the end of 2026, but there are alternative apps. If you use My Life, please contact your healthcare team to check which alternative app they recommend and familiarise yourself with it before My Life disappears.


Levemir Insulin
Any patients previously using Levemir insulin should now have been switched to another long-acting insulin before Levemir is withdrawn at the end of 2026. This does not include Tresiba, which is a newer version of insulin detemir. If you are still on Levemir, please speak to your healthcare team.


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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mydiabetesmyway
X (formerly Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/mydiabetesmyway
Bluesky: @mydiabetesmyway.bsky.social‬


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

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