Latest news with #Unwin
Scottish Sun
15-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Are YOU in the diabetes danger zone? The string test that reveals key sign – plus how to REVERSE silent killer
We also reveal three signs you are suffering from prediabetes if taking specific drugs, and subtle skin changes linked to the silent killer SPOT THE SYMPTOMS Are YOU in the diabetes danger zone? The string test that reveals key sign – plus how to REVERSE silent killer IT'S dubbed a silent killer, triggering 568 heart attacks, 812 strokes and 184 amputations each week in England alone. Millions of people are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, yet have no clue of the potential deadly timebomb waiting to explode. But how do you know if you're among those on the precipice of a diagnosis? Advertisement 5 We share some warning signs that may indicate you're prediabetic Credit: Getty Over 10,000 Brits are living with end-stage kidney failure due to the condition, and it causes thousands more to go blind. Type 2 diabetes also raises the risk of eight different types of cancer. Every two minutes a new case is diagnosed, and a staggering 4.6million Brits have been diagnosed with it - but experts warn 6.3million of us are living in the diabetes 'danger zone'. If this non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, or prediabetes, is left untreated, we could go on to develop type 2 diabetes. Advertisement Dr David Unwin, a GP in Southport, Merseyside and the Royal College of General Practitioners' clinical expert on diabetes, tells Sun on Sunday Health: 'When I trained at university, type 2 diabetes only affected people over 60. 'Sadly that has changed a huge amount in the last 40 years. Now it's not unusual to see patients in their early 20s with diabetes or prediabetes. Tragically, we're even starting to see young children diagnosed. 'That's really worrying, as diabetes damages your arteries over time. 'If you're diagnosed at 70, there's less time for the damage to occur. But if you're diagnosed in your 20s, it will begin earlier. 'Diabetes is shortening lives - through cardiovascular disease, stroke and an increased risk of cancer.' Advertisement Prediabetes is the period in which blood sugar levels are elevated but full-blown diabetes hasn't yet begun. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes are all dubbed 'silent killers' - should we really be that worried? Esther Walden, senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, says if you have this you are at 'high risk' of developing type 2. But Dr Unwin believes knowing this could be 'good news'. 'This is an early warning sign of something that doesn't have to happen,' he says. 'It's a golden opportunity to cut back on foods that raise blood sugar, exercise more and generally be a bit healthier. Advertisement 'Loud and clear, I want to send a message that warding off this illness isn't necessarily complicated. You can turn your life around.' Many people with prediabetes may not be aware as it's symptomless. But here, Dr Unwin shares some warning signs that may indicate you're one of them. 1. STRING TEST IT'S not just being overweight but the distribution of fat that matters. If you're big around the middle, you're at an increased risk. We call this 'central obesity'. Advertisement Cut a piece of string to the same length as your height then fold it in half and wrap it around your waist. If the string meets or overlaps, you're off the hook. But if you can't make the ends touch, you're more likely to develop diabetes. 2. ARE YOU TATT? 5 If you're tired all the time, make sure to check your blood sugar Credit: Getty MANY patients think they're tired all the time simply due to getting older. But I would always check for prediabetes as your blood sugar might be too high or low. Advertisement 3. WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? 5 Being diagnosed with high blood pressure is another prediabetes risk factor Credit: Getty BEING diagnosed with high blood pressure - when the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels is too high - is another risk factor. The NHS defines this as 140/90mmHg when measured by a healthcare professional. You can get yours checked for free at your GP surgery or local pharmacy. HOW TO REVERSE PREDIABETES WHILE Diabetes UK believes around half of prediabetes patients can reduce their risk of developing the disease, Dr Unwin says they have reversed all cases at his surgery. 'We offered 100 patients with prediabetes a low-carb diet at my practice. Two years later, not one had developed diabetes and 93 per cent ended up with normal blood sugar, reversing this prediabetes just by making a few lifestyle changes,' he says. 'Many also lost weight, their blood pressure improved - all without medication.' Remember: it's not just cakes and biscuits that raise your blood sugar levels. Dr Unwin says: 'Sugar itself is obvious, but the thing that most people miss - and I missed it myself for years - is that starchy carbohydrates like bread, breakfast cereals, potatoes and rice digest down into surprising amounts of sugar. 'A 150g portion of boiled rice and a medium-sized baked potato are each roughly equivalent to 10 teaspoons of sugar. 'You should focus on eating more green vegetables and protein.' Esther believes weight loss is key to reversing the condition. 'If you are overweight or obese and at high risk of type 2 diabetes, even small amounts of weight loss can be beneficial,' she says. 'Losing five per cent of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk.' If you are worried you might have prediabetes, speak to your GP. Support is also available from Diabetes UK ( 0345 123 2399). 4. DRUG ALERT 5 Taking steroids for conditions such as asthma means you're more at risk and being more tired than usual could be a sign Credit: Getty Advertisement PEOPLE taking steroids for conditions such as asthma or arthritis are at higher risk as they can increase your blood sugar levels. Look out for signs like going to the toilet more frequently, feeling really thirsty and being more tired than usual. 5. SKIN DEEP ANOTHER possible sign of prediabetes is darkened patches of skin on certain parts of the body, like the neck, armpits or groin. Known as acanthosis nigricans, this can indicate the body is struggling to manage blood sugar. 6. TESTING TIMES IF you've had a blood test and your triglycerides (fat in your blood) were high, you are in the diabetes danger zone. Advertisement Having raised liver enzymes or an abnormal liver function test is another risk factor. More than two thirds of the UK population now has fatty liver, which reduces your ability to deal with sugar and refined carbs like bread. 7. MUM'S THE WORD 5 Gestational diabetes usually disappears after giving birth but you should still get your blood tested for up to 13 weeks after giving birth GESTATIONAL diabetes - high blood sugar during pregnancy - usually disappears after giving birth. But women who have had it at any age are still at increased risk of prediabetes - particularly those aged 40-plus, with a BMI above 30. Advertisement You should have a blood test to check for diabetes six to 13 weeks after giving birth, and annually after that if the result is normal. 8. FAMILY HISTORY CERTAIN ethnic groups are more susceptible to insulin resistance from the age of 25. This includes those of South Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Black African descent. 9. THE CHANGE WHILE men are more likely to develop diabetes, a woman's risk increases around menopause. Once you hit 'the change', you're in the danger zone. Advertisement
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Hundreds respond to Pontefract maternity unit consultation
Hundreds of people have responded to a public consultation over plans to keep the maternity unit at Pontefract Hospital Birth Centre was temporarily shut in 2019 on safety grounds due to a midwife January 2024 Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership (WDHCP) agreed to permanently close the facility, but the decision was put on hold following criticism from Wakefield Council's NHS scrutiny the consultation began last month, about 250 people have taken part. Ruth Unwin, WDHCP's director of strategy, told a scrutiny committee meeting: "That feels very positive because we know that things often take a while to take off by word of mouth. We hope that will build up towards the end rather than slow down."According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Ms Unwin said 77% of respondents were using, or had used, maternity services in the district and that two thirds of respondents were from Pontefract, Castleford or surrounding member Charlie Keith told the meeting he was concerned about the impact of the closure on Pinderfields birth unit, in Wakefield."I would like to see us have some kind of indicator about its ability to cope, so we can be assured that the proposed new arrangements are working now and will be adequate for the future," he Unwin said WDHCP was developing a business case that would show Pinderfields had the capacity to cope. Councillors previously accused local NHS decision-makers of "deliberately running down" the service to justify its last public engagement on potential closure was carried out in 2018 and the time, the NHS said the number of births at Pontefract was "lower than expected" so it could not justify midwives being deployed there, with about 200 women giving birth at the unit each consultation will run until 18 to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Town regeneration work hitting turnover
Building work to regenerate a town's market square has led to "significantly reduced" footfall, shopkeepers have said. Ashton-under-Lyne's fixed outdoor market stalls have been dismantled, temporarily leaving behind large piles of rubble. Val Unwin, who runs Decisions Clothing in the town centre, said her company's turnover had fallen 23% since work on the scheme began in November. Tameside Council said it was committed to minimising disruption for businesses during the work, which is expected to be completed in March. The outdoor market kiosks will be replaced with a large canopy, which is being built with the help of £20m from the Levelling Up fund. Ms Unwin's store is in Fletcher Square, where work is under way to build temporary outdoor market stalls. She said that while she was in favour of the redevelopment, the work was taking "too long". "It has really affected my business turnover," Ms Unwin said. "My shop is blocked off at one side - but when the work is done, I expect this will be a busy little area." The new covering will provide outdoor market traders with protection from the elements. The council hopes it will become a hub for cultural events in the town. Michael Barlow, who runs the Bow Street Cafe on the market square, said 18 months of growth in his business had "flatlined" since the building work began. "We're not getting new customers through the door," he said. Despite that, Mr Barlow said he was optimistic about the future: "The market redevelopment is a really good thing - but this is the worst part and it's worrisome." The council said the redevelopment would also bring high-quality seating, attractive planting, new paving, enhanced lighting and CCTV for the safety of shoppers. Julie Kelly has run the Sincerely Yours balloon and card shop for 26 years. "Since work started, I'm down 30%," she said. "They should've done this in the summer when people can still walk about. A lot of places will close before the work is finished." The indoor market hall in Ashton-under-Lyne is also set to be upgraded. £250,000 will be spent on changing its layout in the hope of bringing in a wider age range of customers by offering improved food and drink options. Councillor Stephen Homer, executive member for towns, transport and connectivity, said the redevelopment would "enhance the town's ability to host community events and provide an improved market offering". He also said the new market square would "attract further investment to make Tameside an even better place to live, work, and visit".
