Diabetes UK April Update
Managing Diabetes During Ramadan
Ramadan takes place from 12th April to 12th May 2021 and the North of England team at Diabetes UK have been working with Haref in Newcastle to support their Ramadan prayer calendar project. Haref have developed Ramadan prayer calendars with 11 mosques in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Gateshead and 3 generic calendars available for download. The calendars contain safe fasting information, tips on managing diabetes, information about COVID-19 vaccines and fasting, and managing glaucoma. You can also view the Haref Ramadan calendars and additional information here.
The Ramadan and Diabetes page on their website also has more advice, and videos as well as factsheets in a variety of languages. The British Islamic Medical Association have worked with The Muslim Council of Britain to produce some advice and position statements that you can find here to answer concerns around having the COVID-19 vaccine during Ramadan.
Their London colleagues’ hosted a webinar on ‘Diabetes and Ramadan’ with informative talks from Sheikh Mohammed Mahmoud, Imam at the East London Mosque, and Professor Tahseen Chowdhury, Consultant at the Royal London Hospital with a special interest in diabetes. Sheikh Mohammed discussed spiritual aspects of Ramadan and Prof Chowdhury outlined the practical mechanisms of fasting and potential impacts on people living with diabetes. You can watch the full webinar here.
Diabetes and Me Competition
Diabetes UK North of England Team are running a family competition with great prizes up for grabs. Find a poster here with details of how to take part. There are family hampers kindly donated by Next for each winner in the 4 categories. They were inspired by their wonderful family group, Type 1 families North Yorkshire and Cleveland, who ran a poster competition last year. Brothers Dexter and Luca created the winning poster, you can also find the winning poster here.
Online cooking demonstration: A healthy South Asian menu: Thursday 15th April 2021, 6:00pm-7:30pm
The Diabetes UK South East team are hosting an online cooking demonstration event. Diabetes UK Volunteer Parveen Khan will be demonstrating how you can cook a healthy 3 course South Asian meal that is perfect for people with diabetes. Diabetes Specialist Dietitian Sarah Alicea will also be on hand to provide tips and answer questions.
Sign up for free here: Online Cooking Demonstration: A Healthy South Asian Menu Tickets, Thu 15 Apr 2021 at 18:00 | Eventbrite
Managing Sport, Exercise and Type 1, Q & A panel: Thursday 29th April, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Diabetes UK know sport, exercise, and type 1 can be difficult to navigate. There’s a lot to think about - from the amount of insulin you’ve got on board, to the kind of exercise you’re going to do, and what you last had to eat. Whether you have type 1 yourself, or you’re a parent/carer of a child living with type 1 – join their ‘Managing sport, exercise, and type 1’ Q&A panel session with their panel of experts who’ll help to answer your questions about taking part in sport and exercise. The panel will include an Associate Professor of Diabetes, a Diabetes Specialist Nurse, a dietitian, and a former GB gymnast who lives with type 1.
Find out more and sign up for free here: https://eu.eventscloud.com/esurvey/sport
Live Well Move More - free Get Moving 10 week courses for anyone living with diabetes who is doing less than 30 minutes of exercise a week.
Applications for Diabetes UK's Get Moving 10 week courses, which start in mid-May, are now live. This phase of courses includes a fully chair-based course, and a ladies only course, with activities ranging from Tai chi to Boxercise and chair yoga. The courses are open to anyone living with diabetes who is doing less than 30 minutes of exercise a week.
Download the Get Moving Online classes poster here
Download 3 Ways to Get Moving poster here
To get in touch with the Physical Activity Helpline Advisor or to book onto an online Get Moving course call: 0345 123 2399 Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm or email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
Diabetes Research
Diabetes Uk have some upcoming opportunities below to get involved in diabetes research, including relevant contact details:
Join an advisory panel for people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
Researchers at Oxford would like to involve people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes to form an advisory panel and meet virtually twice a year to discuss the research priorities, design and results. They are developing an economic model to understand the long-term health outcomes of patients with prediabetes, and the corresponding costs of diabetes care. Please respond to researcher by 15 April.
Please contact James Altunkaya, Researcher in Health Economics, University of Oxford, james.altunkaya@ndph.ox.ac.uk
Input needed from people living with type 2 diabetes who also have frailty
This research project is taking place in Newcastle and is for people with type 2 diabetes aged over 65 years, people who care for older people with type 2 diabetes and people who have a frailty diagnosis across all regions in England. The researcher would like the input from people who fit the above criteria on the design of a grant application initially, and then ongoing input throughout the grant, if successful. The research will be looking at the challenges of people living with diabetes and the impact frailty has on this. Please respond to researcher by 7 May.
Please contact Helen O’Neil, Frailty and Diabetes specialist pharmacist, City Hospitals Sunderland, Helen.oneil1@nhs.net if you would like to get involved.
Ongoing advice and support
Please remember that anyone affected by diabetes can continue to access information and support through the following channels:
Diabetes UK’s regional Facebook Group - Diabetes Chat: Your friend in the North: www.facebook.com/groups/193410685443622
Diabetes UK’s Helpline: Call: 0345 123 2399, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm or Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
Diabetes UK’s coronavirus advice web pages: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus
Diabetes UK’s Learning Zone: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/learn
