New Pre-Diabetes Patient Letter

Dear Patient,

Your recent blood test has shown that you have a slightly raised blood sugar. The level suggests that you have a condition called Pre-diabetes. This means that you are at an increased risk of developing diabetes in the future. It is therefore important to manage this condition by lifestyle changes, to delay or prevent the onset of diabetes.

You DO NOT have diabetes but are at risk of developing it over time.

At the surgery we will monitor your condition on an annual basis so you will receive an invite each year (often done as part of annual reviews of other conditions).

What is pre-diabetes

Many people have blood sugar levels above the normal range, but not high enough to be diagnosed as having diabetes. This is known as non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, or pre-diabetes. Both terms mean the same and over recent years more is known about it.

People with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but the risk can be reduced through lifestyle changes.

If you have non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, you are eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. The programme helps people make lasting lifestyle changes and has been shown to help prevent type 2 diabetes. Accessing it is by self-referral – click on this link

https://healthieryou.reedwellbeing.com/about-the-programme/

Making changes discussed on the programme will help reduce your risk of diabetes in the future

People with non-diabetic hyperglycaemia are also recommended to have a blood test every year to monitor their blood sugar levels.

It’s very important for diabetes to be diagnosed as early as possible because it’s likely to get worse if left untreated and can cause long-term health problems.

How did I get Pre-diabetes?

There are three main things that contribute to developing Pre-diabetes, and the progression to diabetes:

1. What you eat: Being overweight affects the body’s ability to process sugar in the blood.
2. What you do: Long periods of inactivity (e.g., watching television all evening) reduce the ability of insulin to deal with sugar in the blood. Being physically active increases the efficiency of the insulin.
3. The genes you inherit also contribute to the development of Pre-diabetes. You can’t change your genes, but you can do something about your eating habits and your physical activity.

How serious is Pre-diabetes?

Pre-diabetes is a serious problem, which means that you are at increased risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Heart risk: People with pre-diabetes often have high blood pressure and are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease (e.g. angina, heart attack and stroke). Diabetes risk: If no action is taken, 33 out of 100 people with pre-diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 6 years. The risk you have now of getting diabetes is about the same as you pulling the short straw out of three straws offered to you.

Why is it important to avoid diabetes? Diabetes is a serious illness. Many people with diabetes develop serious complications such as impaired eyesight, kidney failure, neuropathy and cataracts. Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and stroke and is the leading cause of amputation in the UK.

The good news! The good news is at this early stage, the condition is often reversible through making relatively simple changes to your lifestyle, like – eating the right foods, losing weight and increasing your level of physical activity!

What can I do to reduce my chances of getting diabetes and heart disease?

Lose weight

Losing 5 -10 percent of your total weight can lower your chances of developing diabetes by more than half!

Eat well

Eating a healthy diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, whole grains and a moderate amount of unsaturated fats, meat and dairy, and remember to watch your portion sizes.

Move more

Aim for 150 minutes of activity per week—or about 30 minutes, five days a week. Any type of activity is good for you. The more you do the better.

Be smoke free

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Quit smoking to look younger and live longer. We’re here to help you!

Drink less

Cutting back on alcohol can benefit your health. Men and women are both advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units per week. Equivalent to six pints of average strength beer or six 175ml glasses of average strength wine.

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme The Healthier You:

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is an NHS funded programme that can support you to make simple changes to your diet, weight management and physical activity levels. Through the program, which is offered virtually or in person, you’ll take small, manageable steps that add up to lasting lifestyle changes to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The program supports you every step of the way with a trained coach to guide and encourage you, online group support and skills to help you lose weight, be more physically active and manage stress.

So, what now? As your blood test was in the pre-diabetic range you are eligible for the free NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

You can now sign yourself up to the programme online at

https://healthieryou.reedwellbeing.com/about-the-programme/

Alternatively, please speak our HCA Alison who can refer you and provide you with more information about lifestyle changes. You will also be invited for an annual blood test at the practice to check that you have not developed diabetes

For more information, you can visit the following websites:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/

Theres an excellent leaflet produced by diabetes.org.uk that discusses risk of developing diabetes which is found here

https://shop.diabetes.org.uk/products/understanding-your-risk-booklet