Usually the body controls the amount of sugar in the blood at a steady level using hormones it makes, like insulin. As some people get older their body gradually loses this ability, and the ‘blood sugar’ gets out of control. At first you don’t notice, but as it goes on this can cause symptoms like the ones below.

If it is picked up early you can often regain control of your blood sugars, helping your body by improving your diet and taking regular exercise. Even if this isn’t possible diabetes can often be treated with tablets, but sometimes insulin is needed. Doctors are convinced that if you get your sugars under control you can avoid the long term effects of diabetes like heart disease, kidney, eye and circulation damage.

Lloyds Pharmacy are offering free health screenings, including weight, height, blood pressure and blood sugar checks. Alpa Ghelani, who has been the pharmacist at Ellesmere Green for four years, explained they have already seen nearly one hundred people and offer advice about diet and lifestyle and will refer to your GP if needed and you agree.

“I want to do more than just dispense medicines. This is just the kind of community where many people will have diabetes but not know about it or understand it, but we have staff who come from the community and can speak several languages.”

So if you think you’d like a check up why not drop into our local pharmacy, no appointment necessary!