Here's why you might have diabetes and not even know it

As someone who was diagnosed with diabetes rather late in life (countless Doctors had apparently ignored the warning signs over the years. One Doctor is convinced I am not a Type 2 Diabetic, but rather an undiagnosed Type 1!) I am very pleased to be able to share this information with my readers. And, as a favour to other people who might be in the same situation I was in, please do share this article with other people you know. After all, you could help save their life if they have untreated diabetes.

Potentially thousands of people are mistaking the warning signs of diabetes for harmless skin conditions. Itchy or tingling skin, or cuts that take a while to heal, could well be down to common, everyday skin problems. 

But! They are also little-known symptoms of type 2 diabetes and need much greater awareness, warns a blood testing expert.

Everyday skin problems could have a more sinister cause. Itchy skin, tingling hands or a cut that takes a while to heal are usually given a quick scratch or covered with a sticking plaster. However, they are also little-known symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

London Medical Laboratory’s latest analysis reveals one million people in the UK are likely to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. 

As a result, it's launched a campaign to fight this invisible killer, which can shorten lives by up to ten years. ‘Give the finger to diabetes’ aims to identify undiagnosed cases with a simple fingerprick blood test. In 2019, there were almost 14,000 diabetes-related deaths in the UK. The earlier people are diagnosed, the better the outcome for them and their families.

Leading blood testing expert, Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: "The chances are your itchy skin is down to dryness, the tingling feeling is because you sat in an odd position and that cut that refuses to heal is because it has been covered by a plaster for too long. However, that may not always be the case.

‘We know Britain currently has 4.3 million registered diabetics, but it’s likely a million more Brits may have the disease without even knowing it. And what seems like a stubborn skin irritation may be your body warning you. Medical professionals are increasingly aware seemingly harmless skin conditions could be a symptom of type 2 diabetes.

Dry, itchy skin: 

‘Poor circulation can cause skin dryness and itchy skin and diabetes could well be the cause. Chronic high blood sugar (glucose) levels affect blood circulation by damaging the lining of your small blood vessels, which impedes circulation.

‘Similarly, this can also be seen in the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in diabetic patients. It’s believed 1 in 3 people over age 50 with diabetes may have PAD. Fatty deposits adhere to unhealthy blood vessels in the lower limbs, leading to blood vessel narrowing and circulation issues. This is often a cause of poor-healing wounds, nerve damage and even “limb ischaemia” (a severe blockage of the arteries), leading to a risk of amputation.

"Also, abnormal sensations that can be perceived as itches, or an itch that's hard to locate and doesn’t go away, may be related to nerve damage from chronic diabetes.

Tingling or numbness in hands, legs or feet:

"Nerve damage can cause pain, tingling or numbness. America’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) says that half of all people with diabetes have nerve damage, known as neuropathy.

"Over time, abnormal blood circulation and changes to how cells get their oxygen and nutrient supply, due to poor blood flow, will lead to nerve fibres becoming damaged, and they may eventually die or stop working altogether. 

"As a result, this blocks the brain from sending and receiving signals to and from different parts of the body, causing numbness or a tingling sensation. Such nerve damage may also lead to burning, discomfort or shooting pains. Vascular disease starts in the hands and feet before progressing centrally to the body, so nerve damage and symptoms are most notable in these areas first.

‘Diabetic neuropathy can't be reversed. Once the nerves are damaged, they cannot repair themselves. Treating neuropathy is difficult and management only addresses symptoms, so early diagnosis is vital.

Cuts that won’t heal:

‘Damaged blood vessels also result in slow wound healing and greater risk of infection. If coupled with nerve damage, wound complications may often go unnoticed until they've progressed. According to Diabetes.org, diabetics may experience more bacterial and fungal infections than people without diabetes as a result of their immune system not working as well.

"Most concerning are foot ulcers. Unhealed ulcers are the leading cause of diabetes-related amputations. Diabetes is the most common cause of lower limb amputations in the UK; someone living with the disease is 20 times more likely to have an amputation.

"Diabetic foot ulcers precede more than 80% of amputations. Again, they develop because high glucose levels damage blood vessels, affecting how blood flows to the feet and legs.

"We’ve only looked at three, lesser-known, symptoms of diabetes. There are many more hidden signs. However, one simple, diagnostic blood test, either with your GP or as a fingerprick test taken in your own home, will tell you if you have the condition before any symptoms develop. Moreover, a fingerprick blood test can also identify if you are pre-diabetic, which is an entirely reversible condition.

‘London Medical Laboratory’s fingerprick diabetes test measures “glycated haemoglobin” – commonly known as HbA1c. The “Diabetes - Diagnosis and Monitoring test” can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 95 selected pharmacies and health stores. For full details, see: https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/diabetes-check

Imager used courtesy of Gary VandenBergh from Pixabay)

Diabetics face critical medicine shortages as their drugs are snapped up for weight loss treatment

Many of Britain’s 4.3 million registered diabetics face a critical medication shortage as their treatments are snapped up by dieters trying the latest trend, weight loss jabs. A leading testing expert says the UK’s diabetes epidemic means key drugs should be saved for patients who critically depend on them.

‘Wonder’ weight loss drugs, such as Wegovy, have hit the headlines in recent weeks. They can help people shed 10%-15% of their bodyweight, largely by supressing their appetite. But some of these weight loss jabs are based on semaglutide, first developed for treating type 2 diabetes. This means the boom in demand for ‘magic bullet’ weight loss jabs is contributing to a major shortage in key diabetes medication, says a leading expert in the field.

Leading blood testing expert, Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: "There's now a global shortage of semaglutide-based drugs for treating diabetes. Key among these is Wegovy’s sister drug, Ozempic, used by the NHS as a treatment for managing blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90% of all diabetes cases in the UK. This will result in both acute and chronic medical complications if left unmanaged."

He went on to say: "Both Wegovy and Ozempic are produced by the Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk. The problem is that Ozempic has increasingly been prescribed off label (outside of its approved licence) for weight loss as an alternative to Wegovy. Now Novo Nordisk is warning of shortages of Ozempic stretching into 2025.

"Ozempic and Wegovy became a social media phenomenon earlier this year as a weight loss cure, with demand for semaglutide spiralling after celebrity endorsements. That’s not what Ozempic was intended for and has resulted in demand far outstripping supply. 

"Now Novo Nordisk’s official weight loss drug, Wegovy, is finally available in the UK on the NHS and as a private prescription. However, though this will relieve the demand on critical Ozempic stocks, supplies of all semaglutide-based treatments remain limited. Patients being treated for type 2 diabetes need to know that there are sufficient stocks of this treatment and, if not, patients need a plan to mitigate against supply disruptions.

"Novo Nordisk now has a market cap of $419.79bn, making it the world's 17th most valuable company.  Astonishingly, the market value of the Danish company has exceeded the size of Denmark’s domestic economy (£395.40bn). 

"We're keen for Novo Nordisk to continue concentrating on the production of vital diabetes treatments, over other semaglutide-based products. The company has stated that it will prioritise treatments for existing patients, rather than focusing on introducing new people to Wegovy weight loss treatments.

"We support Diabetes UK in urging clinicians to follow Department for Health and Social Care guidance, which states clinicians should not prescribe these drugs outside of their licensed use until the supply issues are rectified. 

"It’s not only in the UK restricted supplies are causing problems; there’s also a worldwide shortage. America’s FDA lists Wegovy and certain Ozempic dosages as being in short supply. So too does Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which says supplies of Ozempic will remain limited to diabetes treatments only until at least the end of December 2023, and that patients prescribed Ozempic for other conditions should contact their doctor to have their treatment reassessed.

"The shortage doesn’t only impact on semaglutide-based drugs. All “GLP-1 analogues”, as this family of drugs are known, are in short supply. These include the brands Ozempic, Rybelsus, Trulicity, Victoza, Saxenda, Byetta and Bydureon. This appears to be pan-market disruption, complicated by exceeding demands."

He went on to say: "‘All these drugs signal to your body to make more insulin (the hormone that controls the amount of sugar in your blood) reduce the amount of glucose (gluconeogenesis) that your liver makes, slow down the digestion of food, so that it takes longer for your body to absorb the sugar from meals, reduce your appetite by increasing satiety.

"It’s the final effect that's created this unexpected surge in demand. But, there's some welcome news of another GLP-1 analogue drug just about to reach the UK. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the use of tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro) for treating type 2 diabetes in England and Wales. Supplies of this new drug should come on stream within three months.

"Again, it’s vital this new medication is prioritised as a further treatment for type 2 diabetes, rather than for any other purposes. It, too, is likely to be in hot demand by people seeking to lose weight the easy way. In the US, clinical weight loss trials show Mounjaro is even more effective than Ozempic, with patients achieving 26.6% weight loss over a period of 84 weeks.

"By 2030, diabetes cases in the UK will have risen by 50% compared against 2007 levels, according to Diabetes UK. Unmanaged or undiagnosed diabetes is one of the leading causes of death. Diabetes is usually linked to factors like weight, lifestyle, age and family history. 

"One in ten people will have diabetes by the end of the next decade, and one in three will be at a much increased risk of developing it. The truly frightening fact is that it's quite common for people to have diabetes and not be aware of it.

"Fortunately, there's a simple blood test that will categorically confirm whether or not you have type 2 diabetes, even in its earliest stages, long before any symptoms have developed. This home test checks your levels of HbA1c. 

"This biomarker is used to confirm whether you have (or are at risk of developing) diabetes. For anyone who already knows they have diabetes, regular HbA1c checks are also essential to monitor progress. 

"The London Medical Laboratory’s “Diabetes - Diagnosis and Monitoring test” can be taken at home via the mail, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 95 selected pharmacies and health stores."

For full details visit https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/diabetes-check

TIANA Premium Organic Crystallised Raw Coconut Nectar. A guilt-free sugar replacement for a healthy balanced diet

TIANA Organic Crystallised Raw Coconut Nectar (known as coconut sugar in the Far East) is a fabulously delicious, unrefined, unfiltered and unbleached guilt free sugar replacement that contains no additives or preservatives. Freshly granulated from the sweet nectar of coconut blossom, these natural nectar crystals have far richer nutritional content than all other commercially available sugars or sweeteners. TIANA Organic Crystallised Coconut Nectar is a light golden colour, because the sugars in the nectar did not caramelize from heat.

Nutrient rich, especially high in Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iron, it is a natural source of Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C and has over 14 important amino acids.

Premium quality and 100% pure, it is different to palm sugar and coconut palm sugars that are often mixed with cane sugar or various malt based ingredients available on the market.

TIANA is absolutely free from chemicals such as phosphoric acid, formic acid, sulphur dioxide, preservatives of any bleaching agents or viscosity modifies.

All purpose and guilt free sugar substitute
Use as a 1:1 replacement to sugar, agave or maple syrups and sweeteners.

Use in tea, coffee, cocoa, cocktails, milkshakes and smoothies.

Ideal on cereals, porridge, yoghurt, pancakes or sprinkled over fruit.

It has a very low melting temperature with an extremely high burn temperature, making it perfect for confectionery and various baked foods. And… It tastes sensational by spoon!

No sulphates, No chemicals, No colourings, No preservatives, No stabilisers, No flavourings, No GM ingredients, No cholesterol, No cane sugar, No palm sugar, No soya, No grain, No gluten, No dairy, No yeast. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Enjoy the truly heavenly taste of the sweet nectar from coconut blossom,with TIANA crunchy golden crystals that you will love.

(EDITOR: As a recently diagnosed diabetic, I was pleased to find (with the help of BBC radio presenter and author Janey Lee Grace) out about this product which tastes just as good as it is claimed.)

I am diabetic

Yes, the test results confirm that I am diabetic.

Next week I have my first appointment with the diabetes nurse to discuss what type of diabetes I have,  what treatment I will require and what dietary restrictions I will have to impose on myself.

Former top user of insulin tells his story of how weight loss changed it all

A man who used to be Britain’s highest individual user of insulin told delegates at a study day in Liverpool recently how specialist weight loss surgery transformed his life.

Michael Parker, 49, who weighed 34 stone and was plagued by ill-health, is among 200 people nationwide who have all undergone a complex weight loss procedure known as the duodenal switch.

40 duodenal switch patients gathered together for the first time at an event organised by leading weight loss surgery information charity WLSinfo to share their experiences.

Speakers at the event included leading surgeons, including Professor David Kerrigan, who pioneered the duodenal switch operation in the UK. Also attending were patients and dieticians.

“The study day was for anyone who has had or is thinking of having the duodenal switch operation,” said Ken Clare, founder of WLSinfo.

“As a charity, we have many members the length and breadth of the British Isles who have had this procedure. We felt it would be a great opportunity to bring them together to talk about their experience and for potential patients to find out more.”

Designed to help the seriously obese lose weight by making the stomach smaller and diverting the course of the food eaten, the duodenal switch procedure works by reducing the calories being absorbed by the body.

“Before surgery, I had to take 600 units of insulin a day – 12 times the average amount,” says Michael Parker, one of several duodenal switch patients scheduled to address the gathering,

“Since having the operation, I have lost 19 stone, no longer need insulin, my blood sugar levels are normal and my blood pressure is down. I do not have any symptoms of diabetes that plagued me for almost seven years.”

Also speaking at the event was Michael Parker’s surgeon Professor David Kerrigan, medical director of weight loss surgery specialists Gravitas.

An early pioneer of duodenal switch surgery in the UK, Professor Kerrigan is the surgeon who advised the UK government on the NICE obesity guidelines currently in use.

Over the last nine years, he has performed the duodenal switch procedure on over 150 patients, many of whom attended the event.

At the study day, Professor Kerrigan outlined the history of the operation, its results and describe how – for the right patient – the results can be excellent.

Also attending the event will be specialist dieticians who will speak on nutrition, blood monitoring and the importance of aftercare.

Mediband urges diabetics to be prepared

A leading medical ID device producer is urging diabetics to take advantage of the silicone wristbands on offer to them in a bid to make it easier for paramedics to access information relating to their illness if an emergency situation should arise.

Mediband, creators of the medical ID bracelets, has just launched in the UK and has produced a range of wristbands designed for people with diabetes, as well as a range of specific allergies and food intolerances such as nuts and dairy. The company has also created a wallet card that can be printed with all known conditions and allergies for the carrier, which can easily be taken anywhere.

Also on offer are a range of custom designed wristbands which can be personalised to suit the wearer, as well as custom reversible designer bracelets for those who wish to be more discreet but still need to communicate the relevant information.

Michael Randall from Mediband says: “There is no reason not to purchase one of these Medibands. We cater for all forms of diabetes, including insulin and non insulin dependent. They come in a range of colours and sizes so are suitable for anyone and everyone. They could be one of the most important purchases you ever make, because they could potentially save your life.”

Diabetes UK, one of the foremost charities for the condition states on their website: “It’s really important that you carry some form of medical ID with you at all times, so that if you ever become unwell, people are aware that you have diabetes”

Prices for the bands range from £2.08 to £1.35, depending on the size of the order.

Further information on the Mediband wristbands is available from www.mediband.co.uk.

Mediband was originally founded in Sydney, Australia as a subsidiary of Handband, and has just launched in the UK. The company now caters for over 20 different medical conditions, and that number is growing.

Diabetes. What it is, what it does, what to do with it

Diabetes. At one time a diagnosis of diabetes was considered as either as death sentence or at the very least either a series of painful injections for the rest of your life, and/or a extremely limited diet, with bland, unappetising meals or special diabetic foods that often carried the message: "Warning. Overconsumption of this product may cause stomach upsets."They should also have carried a "wealth warning" as they often carried a shockingly high premium price.

Well, that was how it was, but that's not how it is today. Treatments are different, a lot of the old dietary advice has been superseded by new, more up-to-date knowledge, or discovered for what it was, arrogant guesswork.

The last few blood tests I have had have shown a raised fasting level of glucose, so they are monitoring it. It is probably either diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Over the next weeks and months I will be writing a series of articles based on my understanding of diabetes and the monitoring equipment that is now available for home use, special foods and drinks for diabetics and also what the modern thinking is on what diabetics and pre-diabetics can and can't eat or drink, or what they need to express caution with.