Christmas 2005 newsletter

Hello and Welcome

Enjoy Christmas and New Year, it is a time for celebration and eating for everyone …a little of what you fancy over Christmas will definitely do you good…an odd high glucose reading shouldn't affect your long term control or health.

CHOCOLATE & SWEETS

Chocolate advent calendars - it's only a small amount of chocolate (if you only have 1 calendar), so eat it with a meal and enjoy!

'Diabetic' sweets and chocolates are best avoided. They are expensive, don't taste as good and if eaten in excess, can give you tummy ache or diarrhoea. It is better to have small amounts of 'proper' chocolate that can be spread throughout the day or eaten with meals. If you do receive diabetic chocolate - don't eat it all at once!

Stick with sugar free or diet drinks, or fresh fruit juice only with meals. Fresh fruit juice has lots of natural sugar which will send blood sugars high if taken without insulin.

Save your selection boxes - they will last into January and don't need to be eaten all at once.

FRUIT AND VEG!

Love the Xmas fruit and veg! Fruit salad, melon, satsumas, fruit juice, dried fruit, parsnips, carrots, peas, brussel sprouts, broccoli... Make sure you have your share of these too over Xmas, not just crisps, chocolate and cake!

INSULIN OVER XMAS DAY

If you are on twice or three times a day insulin and Xmas dinner is at lunchtime, give a couple of extra units in the morning (mixed insulin) to cover the ‘grazing' (nibbling between meals!) and extra food and pudding eaten at lunch.

If you are on 4 times a day insulin, then count up your big meals and adjust the insulin, giving extra for the grazing if necessary. Give the insulin after eating the main course, but include units for pudding

If you are on a pump, don't forget to bolus for everything, including the grazing.

HYPOSTOP NAME CHANGE

Hypostop ( Glucose gel ) for the treatment of Hypoglycaemia is now called GLUCOGEL. The product is exactly the same except for its new name. The packaging will be almost exactly the same and instantly recognisable. The wording on every product will be ‘Glucogel formally known as Hypostop!'

CHRISTMAS PARTY!

There will be a Christmas party for children aged between 7 & 12 years old this year, on December 10 th . Again this event will be sponsored by the ‘Local diabetes UK Leeds children's group'

Please return your invitation promptly to David Coates (address on slip). We all hope to see you there, so we can have some fun.

DIABETES WEB SITE Text Box:

We have recently launched our new website for children, teenagers and parents to find lots of useful information on how to manage diabetes. There are also monthly quizzes for you to enter to win a prize and we are also giving you the opportunity to design a logo for the service. The winner will receive a great prize but to find out what it is, you have to enter!

www.leedsth.nhs.uk/sites/diabetes

GROUP EDUCATION

If you are interested in joining a group to meet other people of a similar age, to book a place or learn more about diabetes in the New Year, then please phone, e-mail or text Carol Gelder. Details will be placed on the web site shortly.

Tel: 0113 206 6604

Mobile : 07810 754228

E-mail: carole.gelder@leedsth.nhs.uk

DIABETES UK LEEDS CHILDREN'S GROUP

Diabetes UK Leeds Children's group has recently formed and needs your support!

Please contact any of the following: -

K Womersley 264 1792

C Knight 267 4133

P Friend 252 9201

We hope you have a great Xmas and New Year!