Healthy Living is a free, online NHS programme that supports people to live well with type 2 diabetes.
More than 3.2 million people in England are known to have type 2 diabetes. People from South Asian backgrounds have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, and it can develop at a younger age. If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, managing your condition is important. Accessing support can help you better manage your diabetes, feel positive and keep you feeling well now and in the future.
Healthy Living for people with type 2 diabetes is a free online NHS service. You can find information and advice on treatment, how to reduce some of the stress that diabetes may cause, and healthy lifestyle choices that will build your confidence in managing your diabetes.
Tahir Bashir is a Physician Associate providing clinical care to people with type 2 diabetes:
“As a Physician Associate, I spend a lot of time with people in the local community who have type 2 diabetes. We know that people from South Asian backgrounds have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes – one factor is that we’re more likely to store fat around our middle, which can build up around important organs like the liver and pancreas. Therefore it is important to understand the related health risks and give yourself the best chance to avoid them by taking control of your type 2 diabetes.
Complications related to diabetes – like heart disease, stroke, lower limb amputation, kidney failure and sight loss – are very serious, but there are ways to reduce the likelihood of these happening to you. I recommend the Healthy Living programme to my patients as a helpful resource. It’s informative about type 2 diabetes itself and covers topics such as medication, looking after your feet and eyes, reducing diabetes related stress, but also has a lot of advice about how to make healthy shifts in your lifestyle; whether that’s being more physically active, understanding how to improve your mental wellbeing or making changes to your diet. Importantly, it’s about giving you the knowledge and tools to better manage your blood sugar levels and take control of your type 2 diabetes.”
NHS Healthy Living is available for all adults with type 2 diabetes. You can also sign up on behalf of a family member or if you’re a carer to someone with type 2 diabetes. You can access the programme from a web-browser on your computer, phone or tablet so the information is there for you whenever and wherever you need it. You can use the programme to learn about type 2 diabetes with one topic at a time, or find answers to your questions by searching for key words. The Healthy Living programme is all online, so you can learn at your own pace and log in at a time that suits you.
Tahir adds:
“The Healthy Living programme can offer practical advice and start you on a path to take more control of your type 2 diabetes. Making small changes can make such a difference. The more healthy habits you can put into practice, the better the outlook for your health and your future.”
Take action now and visit NHS Healthy Living to register: www.healthyliving.nhs.uk
