World Health Day: Diabetes, disability, fitness and exercise
World Health Day is a global health awareness day which takes place in association with the World Health Organisation. Every year the day falls on the 7 of April.
Each year, the day focuses on a particular health topic and this year the theme revolves around beating diabetes.
A large proportion of diabetes cases are preventable. Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. Maintaining normal body weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of diabetes.
EFDS recognises the part sport and physical activity have to play in the lives of disabled people with diabetes. As well as supporting the sport and fitness sector to be more inclusive, we encourage disabled people to be active at whatever level they choose.
People with diabetes are classed as disabled and it is termed as a hidden impairment. Many people with diabetes would not class themselves as disabled, but they can fall within the scope of the Equality Act 2010 and therefore benefit from the Act’s protection.
Some people with diabetes will have additional impairments as a result of diabetes, for example visual impairment due to retinopathy.
All disabled people are as prone to diabetes as the population as a whole, but other risk factors should also be borne in mind. Those who are overweight, physically inactive or have a family history of diabetes are at increased risk of developing diabetes.
Diabetes UK estimates there are 3.1 million people who have been diagnosed with diabetes in the UK (2014). By 2025, it is estimated that five million people will have diabetes across the country. It is equivalent to:
- More than 400 people every day
- Over 17 people every hour
- Around three people every 10 minutes
Diabetes UK said:
“Diabetes is serious. If left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney failure. Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.”
The figures are alarming and confirm that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today. Most of the new cases will be Type 2 diabetes, because of our ageing population and rapidly rising numbers of people who are overweight or obese. The majority of guidelines for people with diabetes recommend physical activity (including aerobic and/or resistance training) several times a week.
That is why EFDS programmes like Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) plays a crucial role as it leads the way in providing accessible physical activity and increasing disabled people’s participation. EFDS has been delivering the programme for over ten years and in this time has accredited over 400 IFI Mark gym facilities nationally. These facilities value accessibility and service provision is for disabled people.
Organisations like Diabetes UK and www.diabetes.co.uk (the global diabetes community) have also developed resources to support people with or at risk of diabetes to control their condition through diet and exercise. Fitness providers, like the IFI accredited facilities, may find their information below useful to promote to gym members or support those that are currently inactive.
The Easy Health website provides resources from different organisations that present health information in easy to understand and eye-catching format, using simple words, photos, symbols and pictures. It supports people with a learning disability to access a range of information on diabetes.
Exercise providers may already know of or be delivering GP referrals for people with diabetes. EFDS is always looking for good practice on how you have delivered this within the community. We would like to share good news stories on the benefits of physical activity for disabled people.
For more information on the Inclusive Fitness Initiative or to share good practice, contact Dawn Hughes on 01509 227762 or via dhughes@efds.co.uk.
