SELF-REFERRING TO THE NHS DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMME

“If your GP has sent you a letter or text which confirms that you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes, you are able to register for the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Fill in the form with your blood test reading SELF-REFERRAL FORM | diabetes-prevention

FREE NHS DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMME COURSE EXPLAINED

From the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme – delivered by Living Well Taking Control
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West: Includes a patient leaflet which you can download BUCKS, OXFORD & BERKSHIRE WEST | diabetes-prevention

YOU CAN ALSO CHECK FOR DIABETES WITH AN NHS HEALTH CHECK

You can check if you have diabetes and what your cholesterol is with a blood test, as part of an

• NHS Health Check

If you wish to have a diabetes blood test separate to an NHS health check this can be done through your GP practice.

WHAT IS A HEALTHY WEIGHT?

From the NHS 

• What is the body mass index (BMI)? What is the body mass index (BMI)? – NHS
• BMI healthy weight calculator BMI calculator | Check your BMI – NHS | Please fill in your details

There is more information under self-referral to local support on this page.

Diabetes

If you are diabetic your specialist team or GP practice will have advised you about healthy weight, exercise, and healthy eating and you should follow their advice. It is also worth reading the articles below from Diabetes UK on healthy weight, exercise and healthy eating

From Diabetes UK
Healthy Weight
Weight loss and diabetes Weight loss and diabetes | Diabetes UK

Exercise

• Diabetes and exercise Diabetes and exercise | Type 1 and type 2 | Diabetes UK
• Physical activity and your child Physical activity and your child | Diabetes UK
• Exercise and blood sugar levels Exercise and blood sugar levels | Effects | Diabetes UK

Healthy Eating

• Eating with diabetes Eating with diabetes | Guide to diabetes | Diabetes UK

TIPS AND PLANS TO HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS

From NHS Better Health
Lose weight (includes apps and weight loss plans) Lose weight – Better Health – NHS

From the NHS 

• Healthy Weight Healthy weight – NHS
• Managing your weight Managing your weight – NHS

From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Weight loss food fact sheet Weight Loss | British Dietetic Association (BDA)

From the British Heart Foundation

• Obesity Your weight and heart and circulatory conditions | BHF
• Take control of your weight with the BHF Taking control of your weight – BHF

From Patient info
Weight Loss Weight Loss (Weight Reduction) | How to Lose Weight | Patient
Also, in the health living section there is a section on “Information on Weight Loss (Weight Reduction)” and separately on “Information on Obesity and Overweight” both of which include a number of articles and features relating to weight loss
Healthy Living Healthy Living | Patient

From NICE
CKS obesity  Obesity | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

Lifestyle changes

Importantly you can also consider how one can make any changes part of a new lifestyle which is much more likely to make the changes permanent. More information can be found under:

• Lifestyle changes

CHILDREN’S WEIGHT

From the NHS 

• Children’s weight Children’s-weight – NHS
• The National Child Measurement Programme The National Child Measurement Programme – NHS

From Change4Life

• Easy ways to eat well and move more Healthier Families – Home – NHS
• Children’s weight Children’s weight – Healthier Families – NHS

SOME SIMPLE ADVICE FROM DIABETES UK

From Diabetes UK
A healthy weight can be part of reducing diabetes risk (included with a healthy diet and exercise):

• Overview: Preventing type 2 diabetes Understand your risk | Preventing type 2 diabetes | Diabetes UK
• Use our Know Your Risk tool Diabetes UK – Know Your Risk of Type 2 diabetes
• How can I reduce my risk of type 2 diabetes? Reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes | Diabetes UK
• 10 tips for healthy eating 10 tips for healthy eating | Type 2 diabetes risk | Diabetes UK
• Prediabetes Prediabetes | Diabetes UK | Reduce risk type 2 diabetes

Other information

Other information on help reducing diabetes risk (including self-referral information) can be found here:

• Healthy eating
• Exercise

Lifestyle changes

Importantly you can also consider how one can make any changes part of a new lifestyle which is much more likely to make the changes permanent. More information can be found under:

• Lifestyle changes

YOUR HEART AGE (age 30 to 95)

Your heart age gives you an idea of how healthy your heart is.

An NHS Health Check can give you a more accurate number for your heart age by including a cholesterol blood test result and blood pressure result. However, the calculator below will give you some idea of your heart age if you are not eligible for an NHS health check or decide not to have one.

From the NHS
Calculate your heart age Calculate your heart age – NHS

Blood pressure

If you take your blood pressure at home or with your local pharmacy you can also check what your blood pressure reading means and get information what to do next

From the NHS
Check your blood pressure reading Check your blood pressure reading – NHS

Improving your heart age

Apart from the information on healthy weight on this page there is more information on improving your heart age (including self-referral information to local support) under:

• Exercise
• Healthy Eating includes information on cholesterol
• Smoking