Diabetes Risk-Awareness Service
Most health experts tend to agree that recently, increasing numbers of people have developed a condition called diabetes, and this puts their health at some risk.
In the UK since 1996, the number of people that have been diagnosed with the condition has increased from 1.4 to 2.6 million. It is estimated that by 2025, over four million people will have developed diabetes.
Experts also estimate that up to half a million more British people have diabetes but have not yet been properly diagnosed as having the condition. This is due to the symptoms developing over time and the connection not being made to link those symptoms with diabetes.
What is diabetes?
The condition known as diabetes occurs when the amount of glucose (sugar) present in your blood is too high and this is because your body cannot use the glucose properly. Glucose comes from starchy foods such as bread, pasta and cakes.
There is a hormone (called insulin) that is responsible for maintaining your blood’s glucose level, and insulin works by moving glucose from your blood and storing it in your body’s cells, where it is then drawn upon when your body requires energy. If you do develop diabetes, it is because either your body is not producing enough insulin, or your body is not efficient at using the insulin that it produces.
What is IPSA’s diabetes risk-awareness service?
IPSA’s diabetes risk-awareness service can help you better understand if you are potentially at risk in terms of developing diabetes. You can then take steps to prevent diabetes developing.
IPSA’s diabetes risk-awareness service is conducted by IPSA’s highly trained pharmacy team in IPSA’s private consultation area. IPSA’s diabetes risk-awareness service includes:
- A lifestyle discussion (e.g. your diet and how much exercise you generally take)
- Measuring your blood glucose level over the previous 2 to 3 months, which provides an indication of your likely risk of developing Type 2 diabetes
- Advice on how to reduce the risks of you developing Type 2 diabetes
Your IPSA diabetes risk-awareness consultation lasts for approximately 30 minutes.
Are you eligible for IPSA’s diabetes risk-awareness service?
If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions, then you are not eligible for this diabetes risk-awareness service.
- Do you have diabetes (Type 1 or 2)?
- Do you think you could be pregnant?
- Do you have any blood disorders (e.g. haemophilia or polycythaemia)?
- Do you have any other blood-related disorders (e.g. high levels of haemoglobin S, F or C or rheumatoid factor)?
