If your body does not make any hormone called insulin or does not make enough of this, your body cannot convert blood sugar (called glucose) into fuel for your body’s cells. This condition is Diabetes Mellitus, and it is a growing problem with more than 2 million people in the UK having this condition.
There are 2 types of Diabetes Mellitus: Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 Diabetes, the body is unable to produce any insulin. It usually starts in childhood or young adulthood, and is treated with diet control and insulin injections. Type 2 Diabetes is when not enough insulin is produced by the pancreas gland, or the insulin that is made by the body does not work properly. It tends to affect people as they get older and usually appears after the age of 40, and often occurs in overweight people.
Common symptoms of Diabetes include:
Frequent urination (polyuria)
Increased thirst and fluid intake (polydipsia)
Increased appetite (polyphagia)
Unexplained weight loss
Sudden vision changes
Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Feeling very tired much of the time
Very dry skin
Sores that are slow to heal
More infections than usual
If you have any of these symptoms you should book and appointment with a GP on 01875 610248. If you have confirmed Diabetes, you will be invited by letter for a review by the trained Practice Nurse. At this check, the Practice Nurse will:
Discuss your symptoms and the impact your symptoms are having on you
Review your medications, and any side effects that have
Check your weight, height and blood pressure
Take blood samples to check your kidney function, blood count, cholesterol level, HbA1C, thyroid function, liver function and sugar level. Your HbA1C is a measure of how well controlled your Diabetes is.
Check your urine for protein, so please bring a fresh urine specimen to your appointment. Please note that white-capped urine bottles are available for Reception.
Research shows that the better your Diabetes is controlled, the less likely you are to develop complication of Diabetes, such as kidney problems, nerve problems, blindness, foot ulcers, and heart disease. Attending for regular check-ups is therefore a very important part of your Diabetic care. If you have any questions about Diabetes, please contact the Practice.
Stroke
Stroke is the largest cause of disability in the UK, and third most common cause of death (after heart disease and cancer). Each year 110,000 people in the UK have a first stroke, and about 30,000 have a recurrent stroke. A stroke causes damage to the brain and is due to either a blood clot in the brain (called an ischaemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (called haemorrhagic stroke). Outcome following a stroke depends on several factors such as the part of the brain affected, the extent of brain damage and how quickly treatment is given. Both a stroke and a mini-stroke (called a TIA) are medical emergencies and need immediate medical attention. If you develop any of the following, you should dial 999 immediately (remember FAST):
F – Facial weakness. Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped? A – Arm weakness. Can the person raise both arms? S – Speech disturbance. Can the person speak clearly? Can they understand you? T – Time to call 999 immediately if you or a person have any of the above symptoms.
There are several things that put you at higher risk of having a stroke, but there are also lots of things that you can do to reduce your risk. These include:
Stopping smoking – If you would like help with this, please let us know as we can help you do this.
Eating a healthy low fat diet and taking regular exercise at least three times a week.
Keeping your weight within a normal level.
Drinking alcohol within the recommended limits (21 units of alcohol per week for men, and 14 units of alcohol per week for women).
If you have had a TIA or stroke in the past, you will be invited by letter for an annual review with the Practice Nurse. At this check, the Practice Nurse will:
Discuss your symptoms and the impact your symptoms are having on you
Review your medications, and any side effects that you have
Check your weight, height and blood pressure
Take blood samples to check your kidney function, blood count, cholesterol level and sugar level
Address any risk factors for strokes outlined above, and help you reduce these
Provide help with stopping smoking if applicable
Offer you the annual Flu vaccine
Perform a screening test for depression as someone patients after a stroke develop low mood
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the biggest killer in the UK accounting for 4 out of every 10 deaths. In CHD, the blood vessels called arteries that supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients become narrowed by fatty deposits by a process called atherosclerosis. This causes a restriction in the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart, and causes the symptom of chest pain. If you have a feeling of heaviness, tightness or pain in the middle of your chest that may extend to your arms, neck, jaw, face, back or abdomen, you require urgent medical assessment. If this discomfort does not settle after 5-10 minutes, you should call 999.
There are several things that put you at higher risk of having CHD, but there are also lots of things that you can do to reduce your risk. These include:
Stopping smoking – If you would like help with this, please let us know as we can help you do this.
Eating a healthy low fat diet and taking regular exercise at least three times a week.
Keeping your weight within a normal level.
Drinking alcohol within the recommended limits that is a maximum of 21 units of alcohol per week for men, and no more than 14 units of alcohol per week for women. Please note that 1 unit of alcohol is equivalent to 1 small spirit, half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine.
If you have confirmed CHD, you will be invited by letter for annual review with the Practice Nurse. At this check, the practice Nurse will:
Discuss your symptoms and the impact your symptoms are having on you
Review your medications, and any side effects that you have
Check your weight, height and blood pressure
Take blood samples to check for your kidney function, blood count, cholesterol level and sugar level
Address any risk factors for CHD outlined above, and help you reduce these
Provide help with stopping smoking if applicable
Perform a screening test for depression as some patients with CHD develop low mood
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term that includes the conditions chronic bronchitis and emphysema. With COPD, the airflow to the lungs is restricted (obstructed), and this is usually caused by smoking. Symptoms of COPD include a productive cough, breathlessness, wheeze, chest tightness and frequent chest infections. If you have any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with your GP for review on 01875 610248.
The most important treatment for COPD is to stop smoking that we can help you achieve. If you wish to stop smoking, please contact the surgery or click here for further information. Inhalers are commonly used to ease symptoms in COPD by improving the function of the lungs. There are other treatments available such as steroids, antibiotics, oxygen, and mucus-thinning medicines (mucolytics). These medicines are usually used in more severe cases, or during an exacerbation (flare-up) of the symptoms. About 3 million people in the UK have COPD, and it is more common with increasing age.
If you have COPD, you will be invited for a yearly check-up by our trained Practice Nurse by letter. At this check, the Practice Nurse will:
Discuss your symptoms and the impact of your symptoms are having on you
Review your inhaler technique, so please bring your inhalers to your appointment
Perform breathing tests called Spirometry to access your lung function
Give advice about your inhalers, and make changes to these if appropriate
Provide you with a personal self-management plan
Advise you about signs to monitor for that suggest an infection (e.g. green sputum)
Refer you for Physiotherapy known as Pulmonary Rehabilitation for exercises if appropriate
Asthma
Asthma is a common inflammatory condition that affects the lungs causing narrowing of the airways. This results in patients experiencing the symptoms of breathlessness, cough (often worse at night-time), wheeze and chest tightness. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe, and can be kept under control with inhalers. Asthma is very common with 5.1 million people in the United Kingdom (UK) suffering from this. If you are concerned that you have Asthma, please book an appointment with a GP on 01875 610248.
If you have confirmed Asthma, you will be invited for a review with our trained Practice Nurse once a year. At this check, the Practice Nurse will:
Discuss your symptoms, triggers and the impact your symptoms are having on you
Review your inhaler technique, so please bring your inhalers to your appointment
Measure the capacity of your lungs called Peak Flow (if aged over 5)
Provide help with stopping smoking if applicable
Provide you with a detailed personal self-management plan for your Asthma
Give you advice about your inhalers, and make changes to these if appropriate