My Diabetes My Way: September 2024 Update

Welcome to the My Diabetes My Way Newsletter for September 2024. September is the start of the meteorological autumn and as everyone returns to school, college or work there are several health awareness events.

National Eye Health Week
September 23rd-29th is National Eye Health Week. As everyone should be aware, it is essential to have both your eyesight tested annually at the optician and have your retinal photographs taken to check for diabetic conditions. Some people may be on a two-yearly recall for retinal photography as research has shown that if you do not have retinopathy at one appointment, then it is safe not to re-screen for two years. There are other eye complications such as cataracts or glaucoma that can be detected at your eyesight test.

The Diabetic Eye Screening service has significantly reduced the number of people developing severe diabetes-related eye complications, meaning a much-improved quality of life. Make this the month that you check that your eye screening is up to date at both the opticians and with the Diabetic Eye Screening service and if it’s not, please make an appointment with them today.

You can find videos and further information in the “Eyes” section of our website: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/know-more/my-complications/eyes/

World Heart Day
September 29th is also World Heart Day. There are several factors which affect your risk of developing heart conditions after a diabetes diagnosis. These are your HbA1c (measure of your diabetes blood sugar control), your blood pressure and your cholesterol level. You should be aware of your numbers, and they are available to view in your personal record on My Diabetes My Way. If any of these results are consistently above your target, then please consult your healthcare provider so that treatment can be adjusted in conjunction with lifestyle modification.

You can find more information on Heart Disease and Diabetes here: https://mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/internal/heart-disease-and-diabetes/

Winter Vaccines
September also sees the start of the annual winter vaccination programme in most regions of the country. Everyone with diabetes is entitled to a flu vaccination and many will be entitled to a Covid vaccination too. There are useful links to information about both vaccinations at the following link: https://www.nhsinform.scot/winter-vaccines/

Free Online Courses
MyWay Digital Health are running two online courses in the coming weeks. The first is on “Type 1 & Tech” and takes place on 2nd and 3rd October. This course has something for everyone – whether you’re managing diabetes, working in healthcare, or simply eager to learn about continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps and hybrid closed loops. Join live Q&A sessions with diabetes experts and register at https://understandingtype1.mydiabetes.com/

A second course on “Weight Management” will take place on the 9th and 10th of October. It offers a flexible and engaging way to achieve your health goals. The course covers essential topics such as nutrition, exercise, behavioural strategies and weight loss medications through interactive modules, videos, and quizzes. Whether your goal is weight loss, improved fitness, or healthier eating habits, this course provides the resources you need for success. There will also be live Q&A sessions with an expert panel. Register at: https://mywayweightmanagement.com

Both courses will be available for 6 days so you can complete them at your own pace!

Million Step Challenge
Finally, September sees the end of the Diabetes UK Million Step Challenge. Well done to everyone who has participated in this event, regardless of how many steps you managed. Each step is helping your diabetes control and minimising the risk of complications, increasing your fitness and wellbeing.

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.