If you have recently attended for your long term condition review you may find some of the information on this page helpful. You can find your results on the NHS App or AirMid App
Blood Pressure
If you are under 80 a blood pressure less than 140/90 (135/85 home reading) is good
If you are over 80 a blood pressure less than 150/90 (145/85 home reading) is good
Cholesterol
Cholesterol and triglycerides are fats that are carried around your body in the blood. It is vital that you have enough of it in your body to work properly, but too much can block your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. If your cholesterol level is normal, to prevent it increasing ensure you eat a healthy, balanced diet that is low in saturated fat.
If you are on cholesterol tablets we would ideally look for a reduction in your non HDL (bad cholesterol) of 40%. You may have received a separate letter if we think you would benefit from a cholesterol tablet or your current medication needs reviewing.
HbA1c
An HbA1c less than 42 is ideal
An HbA1c more than 42-48 pre-diabetic
An HbA1c more than 48 diabetic range
The HbA1c is a test for diabetes. Being in the pre-diabetic range is a sign that you are struggling to manage the sugar in your body properly. There is a significant risk that people in the pre-diabetic range could go on to develop diabetes. However, with good diet management, exercise and weight loss it is possible to reduce this risk and even reverse it back into the normal range. If you are in the pre-diabetic range, help and support is available to prevent progression to diabetes. Please follow the link below:
Healthier You | Diabetes Prevention
If you are in the diabetic range, and not already diagnosed with diabetes, you should have been contacted by the surgery already, if you have not please let us know at the surgery.
BMI
A BMI less than 18.4 is in the underweight range
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is in the healthy range
A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is in the overweight range
A BMI more than 30 is in the obese range
If your BMI is >30 (or 27.5 in the Black, Asian or ethnic minority) you can access a free NHS weight loss programme. The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is a 12 week online programme designed to help people loose weight. If you would like to be referred please enquire at reception or alternatively fill in an eConsult via our website.
Alcohol
Health problems related to alcohol consumption can take many years to develop, allowing people to believe there are no negative impacts to their alcohol intake. Regular drinking above the recommended daily limits can seriously impact your health and be a significant component of weight gain, even if you don’t get drunk or binge drink.
Risks include liver problems, reduced fertility and high blood pressure with risks increasing the more you drink. Recommended guidelines are now the same for men and women. Drinking no more than 14 units a week, spreading your alcohol intake evenly across the week and having several drink free days each week will reduce your risk
If you would like any support with alcohol please see the website below for more information.
Smoking
Smoking increases the risks associated with high blood pressure and raised cholesterol. The great news is that you can reduce your risk over a period of time by stopping.
If you do smoke and would like to stop please find below the details for the smoking cessation clinic:
Telephone: 0800 772 0565 / 0191 3692016, or text QUIT to 66777
Physical activity
Achieving 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on 5 days of the week helps prevent and manage over 20 chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, some cancers and depression. Moderate intensity means how hard your body is working when you are being physically active. You should still be able to talk but your breathing will be quicker and deeper, your body will be warming up and your heart will be beating faster than normal but not racing. Starting to become more active is about gradually building up the amount you do and most importantly doing an activity that you enjoy which fits into your everyday life.
The good news is that there are lots of different ways to become active and benefit your health: from walking to dancing; gardening to swimming; yoga to football, there will be an activity there for you. Go to www.nhs.uk/change4life for opportunities to become more active in your local area.
Diet
A healthy and balanced diet, which includes at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, is important to reach or maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle.
Cut saturated fat
Choose lean cuts of meat & trim off extra fat before cooking.
Bake, steam, poach or grill rather than fry or roast.
Check food labels for saturated fat content.
Use less meat and instead add bulk to sauces and stews with vegetables or beans.
Watch your salt intake
Too much salt can cause raised blood pressure. High blood pressure is called the silent killer as it often has no symptoms, and if you have high blood pressure you are three times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke. One easy way to eat less salt is to stop adding extra salt to your food during cooking and at the dinner table. Also, read food labels to avoid foods that are high in salt. High is more than 1.5g salt per 100g (or 0.6g sodium). For healthy, tasty recipes visit www.nhs.uk/change4life/recipes
Medicines Sick Day Guidance
Omit taking the medications listed below when you are unwell with any of the following:
• persistent vomiting or diarrhoea
• fever with significant sweating and shaking.
These medications are all very important, but when you are seriously ill or become dehydrated, they may cause side effects.
These medications can be restarted once you start eating and drinking normally after 24–48 hours. If your sickness lasts longer than that, you would be best advised to seek medical attention.
If you have diabetes and you usually monitor your blood glucose at home, increase the number of times that you check your blood glucose levels. If your levels run too high or too low, contact your diabetes team.
If you are taking insulin, seek medical advice regarding dose adjustment if you are uncertain, but never stop taking the insulin. If you are in any doubt, contact your pharmacist, GP or nurse.
Medications to omit temporarily
Metformin
SGLT-2 inhibitors: medicine names ending in ‘flozin’ eg canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin GLP-1 analogues: medicine names ending in ‘tide’ eg exenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide and semaglutide
ACE inhibitors: medicine names ending in ‘pril’, eg lisinopril, perindopril and ramipril
ARBs: medicine names ending in ‘artan’, eg losartan, candesartan and valsartan
NSAIDS: anti-inflammatory painkillers, eg ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen
Diuretics: sometimes called ‘water pills’, eg furosemide, indapamide, bendroflumethiazide, bumetanide and spironolactone
ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARBs = angiotensin receptor blockers; GLP-1 = glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists; NSAIDS = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; SGLT = sodium-glucose cotransporter
© Association of British Clinical Diabetologists 2020