healthyliving award – the twenty-seventh edition of the coretalk newsletter

Nibbles

Edinburgh community cafés – putting them on the map

For some time, Edinburgh Community Cafés have had an online map of their cafes’ whereabouts. Now, thanks to generous funding from the Small Steps Big Difference Campaign, they have printed 3,000 handy A3 foldout versions, too.

The map features 36 cafes in Edinburgh, and lists their address, telephone number, opening hours and local bus numbers. There is a colour-coded key that highlights the special facilities each café has – from holding the healthyliving award to exhibition space, weekend openings and children’s play areas.

If you live in the Edinburgh area, you can pick up your copy from your nearest café, library or community centre. If you can distribute these maps or if you work with people who might benefit from having a list, then Edinburgh Community Cafés would like to hear from you.

www.edinburghcommunitycafes.org.uk

News bites

Diabetes in focus
By Stephen Fyfe, Diabetes UK

With over 220,000 people diagnosed in Scotland, and numbers predicted to grow to over 350,000 by 2030, type 2 diabetes is never far from newspaper headlines. Another 620,000 people are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes as they have some of the risk factors, such as a large waistline, being overweight, a family history of type 2 diabetes or are over the age of 40.

Diabetes is a condition where your body can’t produce, or doesn’t produce enough, insulin, or where the insulin doesn’t work properly. If you don’t have the right amount of insulin you can become very ill.

No less serious than type 1 diabetes, where insulin injections are used to immediately regulate glucose levels, type 2 diabetes is treated by diet and exercise, medicines, and, in some cases, insulin.

Being a healthy weight is important for the management of all types of diabetes, and, indeed, for anyone who might be at risk of diabetes, which, for most people, means getting the balance right about eating a healthy diet. Making these steps will help to manage diabetes and protect long-term health.

This diet is the same whether you have diabetes or not, so eating your 5 a day, watching portion sizes, and understanding food labels are just as important as taking medication and being active.

Anyone diagnosed with diabetes will have the support of dietitians and diabetes healthcare teams.

Information is also available from Diabetes UK at www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes

Find out your risk of type 2 diabetes at www.diabetes.org.uk/riskscore

Table talk

Are you committed?

When you register for the healthyliving award award, you will receive your starter pack, including your Guidance for Applicants folder and Statement of Commitment. One of the first things you must do is display the Statement of Commitment, as this lets your customers know you are working towards the award and are committed to achieving it within six months.

It is important that there is a limit on the time a business has to achieve the award to ensure the credibility of the award. We do appreciate that, occasionally, the timeframe is not suitable, in which case it can be discussed and extended. To make sure you make good progress, we encourage you to follow the timetable in section 4 of the guidance folder. If you find you are slipping behind schedule you can contact us for further support.

Call 0141 414 2880 or email asktheteam@healthylivingaward.co.uk.

healthyliving award • NHS Health Scotland
5th Floor • Meridian Court • Cadogan Street • Glasgow • G2 6QE
Phone: 0141 414 2880 • Fax: 0141 414 2818

Website: www.healthylivingaward.co.uk