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Weighing up the odds for Diabetes Week
8th June 2017
Offerton resident Graham Ward has put his weight behind a campaign to raise awareness of diabetes – but it’s considerably less than it used to be.
That’s because sixty one year old Graham lost an amazing four stone after he took positive action when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Instead of just taking the medication prescribed, he took on aboard all of the advice and help offered by his GP practice nurse and it’s changed his life for the better.
It was explained that type 2 diabetes is linked to being overweight so Graham changed his diet, took up walking and going to the gym and went on an NHS Expert Patient course.
Now, two years after his diagnosis, he has his diabetes completely under control and no longer needs to take the medication.
Said Graham “My practice nurse told me about Walk Stockport, which is a scheme to encourage people to do more exercise, so I joined the group.
“It wasn’t really what I expected – everyone was so friendly and it was great fun. It inspired me to walk further and faster and generally do more exercise.
“Taking that first step of going on the walk was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.”
Diabetes Awareness week runs from 11th to 17th June and this year the theme is Know Diabetes. Fight Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is generally linked to be overweight.
Stockport has 14,500 people who’ve been diagnosed and 5,600 who have diabetes but don’t know it. A further 27,000 people are at high risk of developing diabetes.
Dr Vicci Owen-Smith, Stockport CCG’s Clinical Director of Public Health and Stockport Council’s Deputy Director of Public Health, is supporting Diabetes Week.
Said Dr Owen-Smith “It’s really important to know the symptoms of diabetes because it can do irreversible damage to a person’s health if it’s not managed properly.
“Symptoms include feeling extremely thirsty, needing to pee a lot more than other people and constantly feeling tired or losing weight for no reason. If you recognise these symptoms in yourself, see your GP.
“Don’t be afraid – just look at how brilliantly Graham dealt with it. There is so much we can do nowadays to manage diabetes that people can go on to live very normal and full lives.”