Focus on Diabetes Awareness at Nellsar

It is estimated that more than five million people in the UK are living with diabetes, which is an all-time high. Data from Diabetes UK shows that more 4.3 million people in the UK live with diabetes. Additionally, 850,000 people could be living with diabetes who are yet to be diagnosed.

Food and Lifestyle Guidance

The British Dietetics Associations guidance for people with diabetes is to:

  • Eat a healthy balanced diet which includes avoiding processed foods and refined sugars.
  • Eat a whole food diet with a balance of protein, healthy fats, complex carbs and vegetables.
  • Remain hydrated.
  • Stay active.
  • Manage stress with mindfulness and relaxation techniques.

Older People and Diabetes

Recommendations for older people can differ slightly from the general diabetes guidance. The elderly are more likely to be underweight and at risk of undernutrition which means it isn’t always appropriate to reduce calories, fats, salt and sugar for every elderly person. Restricted, poor and irregular eating can easily lead to hypoglycaemia where the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood drops too low.

There are many factors which can affect appetite in older people including medication, oral health, dehydration, isolation and illness. To ensure proper support is in place, older people with diabetes should have a nutritional assessment carried out by a dietician who can advise on appropriate supplements, weight reduction and low salt diets if required. This can also be a part of the individual care plan if a person lives in a care home.

Diabetes focus at Nellsar

We are fortunate at Nellsar that I’m in the unique position, as an onsite Nutritionist, to be able to advise our Homes on building personalised menu plans. I can recommend recipes and provide education on how we can best support people through a ‘food first’ approach based on individual preferences.

In summary, older people with diabetes should be assessed and nutritionally supported on an individual basis. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to diet support and diabetes in care.

I am currently working on an initiative across our Nellsar Homes which involves mentoring our Nutrition and Catering Teams on how to clearly show the healthy and balanced options available on all menus and tea trollies. The focus is on helping staff and residents to easily identify the better options to support diabetics – using the term ‘healthy option’ is preferable, as the term ‘diabetic option’ is outdated.

I am also sign-posting our Nutrition Leads and Chefs towards recipes that can be included on our menus and tea trollies which offer a healthier and more balanced option for cakes, biscuits and desserts. Key is ensuring inclusivity, variety and appeal for all.

Here are some healthy option recipes from Christine Bailey:

Ultimately food is about enjoyment, and this should be the case no matter the complexity of any health condition. Diabetes shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying food.

If prepared well, healthier options can be decadent and delicious, and my aim is to help our Nellsar Chefs and Catering Teams prove this!

 

 

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Nellsar has 13 Care Homes throughout Kent, Surrey and Essex

Care Home in Bromley

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Meyer House Care Home in Maidstone

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Care Home in Dartford

Sonya Lodge Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

The Old Downs Care Home in Dartford

The Old Downs Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home in Deal, Kent

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Care Home in Maidstone

Lulworth House Residential
Care Home MAIDSTONE

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential
Care Home SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home Staplehurst Kent

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Princess Christian Care Home Surrey

Princess Christian Care Home
SURREY

Silverpoint Court Residential
Care Home ESSEX

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

The Old Downs Care Home in Dartford

The Old Downs Residential
Care Home DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Residential
Care Home MAIDSTONE

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential
Care Home SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home Staplehurst Kent

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Bromley Park Care Home
BROMLEY

Care Home in Bromley

Meyer House Care Home
DARTFORD

Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home
DARTFORD

The Old Downs Residential Care Home
DARTFORD

St Winifreds Care Home
DEAL

St Winifreds Care Home in Deal Kent

Loose Valley Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lukestone Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Residential Care Home
MAIDSTONE

Lulworth House Care Home in Maidstone

Hengist Field Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Woodstock Residential Care Home
SITTINGBOURNE

Abbotsleigh Care Home
STAPLEHURST

Princess Christian Care Home
WOKING

Silverpoint Court Residential Care Home
CANVEY ISLAND