Hartlepool people urged to examine their lifestyle to combat diabetes

Diabetes specialists at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are using Diabetes Week, which continues until June 18, to highlight the risks of a poor diet and lifestyle and action to take.

Senior consultant Sue Jones, leads regular diabetes outpatient clinics and says: “Around 20 per cent of our in-patients are diabetic. That is a significant number and shows the impact this can have on people’s health.

“For someone with diabetes, getting control of your blood sugar level is so important. Sugar control for our inpatients means a shorter hospital stay and improved health outcomes.”

She added: “For people with diabetes it is about managing it, making changes and fitting the demands of it into their lifestyle.”

The organisation has a diabetic specialist team which help patients with a range of diabetes-related conditions such as foot problems and help for women who are pregnant.

Anne Quincey, a diabetes specialist nurse, said: “We see lots gestational women – high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy.

“The key to managing diabetes is having a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet.”

The service’s podiatry team help patients with foot conditions developed through poor blood circulation which diabetes can cause.

Specialised podiatrist Christine Cass-Evans said: “We want to urge people with diabetes not to ignore their feet.

“If you have any issues, however small, you must visit your GP and have them checked. If they do need treatment, patients are referred to our team.”