Diabetes care in Royal Greenwich
Diabetes is one of the most common diseases affecting all age groups. It is a condition that occurs when your body has trouble managing, storing and using the sugar in your blood.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is when your body cannot produce insulin, it usually starts before the age of 40 and is less common than Type 2 diabetes. T1D is treated with insulin injections, diet and exercise.
- Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin (known as insulin resistance). We used to think of T2D as an issue for people over 40 years old, but it is now also common in younger people, particularly among South Asian and African-Caribbean people.
You can find out more about diabetes, including symptoms and treatments on this NHS information page.
Anyone can get Type 2 diabetes.
Being over 40 years old, being overweight or having a relative with it can increase our risk.
If you are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, your GP may refer you to Healthier You, the free NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. It’s designed to provide support to reduce your risk through:
- personalised support
- education on healthy eating and lifestyle
- help to lose weight and physical exercise programmes
For more information, please visit Healthier You.
Find out your diabetes risk score now by visiting Diabetes UK.
Diabetes Services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The Diabetic Centre provides a range of investigations and management strategies for patients with diabetes mellitus and is staffed by a dedicated team of specialist nurses and a dietician. Referrals can be made by GPs, district nurses or via outpatients clinics. Routine new referrals are seen within a few weeks.
https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/diabetes-services-at-queen-elizabeth-hospital
020 8836 5264
Community Diabetes Service at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
The community diabetes team has expanded to provide a comprehensive multidisciplinary diabetes service to residents of Greenwich. The team includes secondary care colleagues and works closely with the Diabetes Day Centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
http://oxleas.nhs.uk/services/service/diabetes-specialist-nursing/
020 8319 7078
South East London Healthier You: Diabetes Prevention Programme
Your local South East London Healthier You: Diabetes Prevention Programme is here to support people at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. If you would like to speak about a referral to the service please discuss this with your GP surgery.
https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/south-east-london/
0333 577 3010
Healthier You - NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP)
Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is part of the national programme which by 2020 is expected to provide support to 100,000 individuals each year. If you have been told you are at risk of diabetes and meet the criteria, you can access your local Healthier You programme by a referral from your GP or nurse or a referral from a Health Check professional.
https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/london/locations/
0333 577 3010
Greenwich Nepalese Local Diabetes Group (Diabetes UK)
The Greenwich Nepalese Diabetes UK group is one of over 300 voluntary groups situated throughout the UK. Our goal is to raise awareness of diabetes within the Nepalese community in Greenwich and provide support and education for people living with diabetes, as well as their family, friends and anyone else who is interested in knowing more about diabetes.
