A Milton Keynes man has been chosen by Diabetes UK to be the face of its Diabetes Week campaign speaking out about the importance of learning to live well with diabetes.
Abdul Rais, aged 63, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes towards the end of 1999, and says he knew nothing about diabetes prior to being diagnosed.
He just knew that people with diabetes are not allowed sugary food. After being diagnosed he was given various leaflets on the subject by Diabetes UK.
He soon became a member and works as a volunteer in helping raise diabetes awareness, particularly among the South Asian community.
Abdul's picture will appear on posters promoting Diabetes Week and their story will also feature during the Week to encourage others living with the condition to get the support they need.
He said: "Managing your diabetes can be exceedingly demanding, requiring you to think about every bite of food you eat and the impact of any exercise to take on your blood glucose levels, in terms of how much it will affect them, how quickly and how long for.
"It's really not easy, especially when you are first diagnosed when it can all feel quite complex and overwhelming. So it made all the difference to me when I got the support I needed to help me manage my diabetes, giving me more time to get on with living my life to the full."
Diabetes Week takes place from June 14-20. Join the conversation on Twitter by sharing your hints, tips and stories of living life to the full with diabetes, using the hashtag #DiabetesAndMe.
Source by www.mkweb.co.uk
