This week is Diabetes Awareness Week (Sun 12th to Sat 18th June) and the theme is 'Setting the record Straight'. Many people are aware of the condition but not about how it affects those that have Diabetes.

"...Just about everyone has heard about diabetes. And, with 3.5 million people diagnosed in the UK and a further 549,000 who have the condition but don't yet know it, most of us know a friend or family member living with diabetes. And yet it’s still hugely misunderstood, and there are so many myths and misconceptions out there that this year, the theme is Setting the record straight." 

Find out more about Diabetes, if you are at risk from type 2 Diabetes and how to manage the condition so that it doesn't develop into something more serious and have further health implications.

Stress is a major factor in both physical and mental health and Men's Health Week (13th-19th June) is focussing on this to highlight how you can reduce stress in your life and cope with it better.

Everyone has stress in their lives to a varying degree and 1 in 4 men will develop a mental health problem. If thats you or you feel stress is getting too much, find out about ways to beat the stress at https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/beat-stress-chat

Alzheimer Scotland is asking everyone to Challenge Dementia as part of their Dementia Awareness Week (30th May to 5th June) and talk about dementia to challenge discrimination, isolation and stigma.

"With over 90,000 people in Scotland living with dementia and the number set to double in a generation, we need to take action now to support those living with the illness along with thousands of partners, carers, family members and friends. By talking about dementia we improve our understanding and we break down the stigma." - Henry Simmons, Chief Executive, Alzheimer Scotland

You can find out more about Dementia Awareness Week at Alzheimer Scotlands webpage. http://www.alzscot.org/

If you or someone you know has Dementia in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun areathe Kilmarnock Dementia Resource Centre can provide information, advice, personalised support services, or activities in your community.

Kilmarnock Dementia Resource Centre,

8-12 College Wynd, Kilmarnock, KA1 1HN

Phone - 01563 542621

Email - AyrshireServices@alzscot.org

Children’s Hospice Week is running from 23rd to 29th May. It is the is the UK's only awareness and fundraising week for children with life-shortening conditions, their families and the palliative care services that support them.
I have added my name in support of the Early Day Motion raised in Westminster this week to help raise awareness of groups like ‘Together for Short Lives’ and ‘Children’s Hospice Association Scotland’.
If you would like to support these worthy charitie...s or want to know how you can volunteer you can find out more through the links below.

Together for Shorter Lives - http://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/childrenshospiceweek
Children’s Hospice Association Scotland - http://www.chas.org.uk/
Early Day Motion - http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2016-17/54

A new survey conducted by patient charity, Crohn’s and Colitis UK, has found that 100,000 patients in the UK with Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD) don’t have access to adequate care. IBD Nurses are instrumental in improving the quality of life for patients with IBD as well as helping to cut significant costs to the NHS, yet many health services are not offering the recommended nursing level.

The specialist nurse role provides expert advanced nursing care, being the first point of contact and caring, often during distressing times - coordinating often high cost therapies in a cost effective way - as well as reducing A&E visits, with studies showing that IBD nurses help with a 38% reduction in hospital visits and a 19% reduction in in-patient length of stay. IBD costs the NHS £900 million per year, with the average cost per patient being £3000 per year. These costs are comparable to diabetes or cancer as treatment options can include effective, high cost biological drugs and surgery...