Leicester Diabetes Centre creates an ‘informative’ infographic to coincide with global campaign

A world-renowned Leicester health centre has highlighted five important health behaviours people with diabetes should be aware of to help them better manage their condition to coincide with World Diabetes Day.

Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) has created an educational infographic which featured in the new European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) consensus report. This report was published simultaneously in the journals Diabetes Care and Diabetologia , and  is being used by clinicians around the globe to support people with diabetes.

This guidance new infographic explores the impact of physical behaviours on the health of people living with the condition and focuses on the five S’s – sitting, stepping, sweating, strengthening and sleep.

Experts from LDC have summarised this advice in a new infographic and have coincided its release withWorld Diabetes Day – a global campaign held on November 14, to draw attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world.

The infographic was developed by Professor Melanie Davies CBE, co-founder of the LDC based at Leicester General Hospital, as well as Mike Bonar, Creative Director, Charlie Franklin, Senior Creative, Dr Joseph Henson, Research Associate and Professor Tom Yates.

Professor Davies CBE said: “We should all be aware of how important the whole day is when talking about our activity levels and our health.

“We know that regular exercise is very important for people living with type 2 diabetes. However, other behaviours that happen over the course of a day are vital too.”

She added: “Over 24-hours, we spend time sitting, sleeping, walking and exercising. All of these activities affect our health.”

According to the new guidelines, prolonged sitting should be broken up by walking around or doing simple resistance exercises every 30 minutes to improve glucose metabolism.

The experts say an extra 500 steps a day can reduce the risk of heart problems and early death by two to nine per cent, while brisk walking for five to six minutes every day can add four years to life expectancy.

People living with diabetes should also aim to exercise (sweating) for either 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes or more of vigorous-intensity exercise, every week. People are urged to avoid no more than two consecutive days of inactivity and to also include two to three strength, flexibility and, or, balance sessions. This can include activities such as tai chi and yoga.

People should aim for consistent, uninterrupted sleep. Irregular sleep results in poorer glycaemic levels – this could be due to insomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea and restless leg syndrome. Night owls who go to bed late and get up late may be more susceptible to inactivity and poorer glycaemic levels compared to ‘early birds’ who go to bed early and get up early, the scientists say.

This image was adapted from Figure 2 of the new European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) consensus report for management of hyperglycaemic in type 2 diabetes, published simultaneously in the journals Diabetes Care (Davies et al. Diabetes Care. 2022; Nov 1;45(11):2753-2786. doi: 10.2337/dci22-0034) and Diabetologia (Davies et al. Diabetologia. 2022; 65:1925-1966).

LDC is led by Co-Directors Professor Davies CBE and Professor Kamlesh Khunti CBE. Hosted at Leicester General Hospital, the Centre is a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester.

The Centre has a national and international reputation for clinical care that is underpinned by innovative and world-leading clinical research. A wide range of research studies have been implemented by the LDC, focusing on the areas of early detection, prevention, structured education, and new therapies, along with teaching and training for both patients and healthcare professionals. The results of these studies have had an impact on local NHS policies, Department of Health programmes and NICE guidance.

The world-renowned, multi-disciplinary research team based at the LDC is also leading the way by providing the evidence behind their education programmes and widening the knowledge base for health and disease management. This includes creating education programmes for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals in the prevention and management of diabetes, as well as a suite of programmes supporting other long-term, related conditions.

To access the infographic, click here.