Where can I go for diabetes care in 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 and is staffed by a dedicated team of specialist nurses and a dietician. The Centre is also the control centre for co-ordinating digital referral photography appointments to screen for diabetic eye disease.
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
