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'diabetes and me',<br><br>Care and supportYour essential guide to social care About social care Choosing care services Social care assessments NHS continuing care Mental capacity Carers' wellbeing Home care Care homes Breaks from caring Carers' rights Young carers All care and support topicsServices near you<br><br>Don't miss out .<br><br>Exercise your right to choice in the NHS<br><br>Learn about patient choice nowNewhealthy weightadvice was issued in July 2013 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to south Asian adults.<br><br>If you have aBMI (body mass index) score of 23 or more, youhave anincreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.<br><br>If you're BMI is27.5 or more, you have ahigh risk of developing type 2 diabetes.<br><br>Find outif you're a healthy weight for your height.<br><br>Surjeet, an accountant from Luton,was 50 when he found out he had type 2 diabetes. He had typical symptoms. "I was overweight. I weighed over 12 stone (76kg)and I'm5ft 6in (1.67m)tall. Iwas getting up in the night to pass water, I'd lost some weight and I had blurred vision," he says.<br><br>Surjeet's wife, Devinder, was concerned and urged him to see his GP, who diagnosed diabetes with a blood test. "I suspected it was diabetes, so wasn't shocked when the doctor told me," says Surjeet. "I just thought, 'I need to get on with my life now'."<br><br>His younger brother, who lives in India, has diabetes and Surjeet thinks his grandfather did too. "Neither of my parents had it, but it's in the family."<br><br>Learning about diabetes<br><br>The GP prescribed medication (Glucozide) to control Surjeet's diabetes, but he has never had to take insulin. "I'm living with a progressive condition and one day I might have to start taking insulin," says Surjeet. "I'll deal with that when it happens." The medication has improved his vision and he no longer needs to wear glasses for driving.<br><br>Over the next couple of years, Surjeet read books about diabetes and began to make small changes to his lifestyle, such as cutting out sweets and getting more exercise. "I definitely noticed an improvement in my health," says Surjeet, who now weighs a healthy 10 stone (63.5kg). "Once I changed my lifestyle I felt more active. Generally, I felt pretty good. Istopped feeling lethargic. There was a lot of go in me!"<br><br>Cutting down on gulab jamun<br><br>Surjeetsays it has taken willpower to make the changes he felt were important. "I used to eat a lot of Indian sweets. Devinder makes lovely gulab jamun, but I don't have them now," he says. "And I used to overeat, whereas now I eat less. I'll have just one chapatti with the evening meal, and afterwards I'll have plain yoghurt. I cut down onall my desserts. I'll have custard or ice cream just once a month or so."<br><br>Surjeet also gave up alcohol, and hasn't had a drink for nearly 14 years. Having diabetes doesn't mean you can't have alcohol, butalcohol can cause problems. The adviceabout drinking differs depending on a person's condition and medication. Surjeet decided to give up altogether. "I used to go to the pub with friends, or to weekend parties at people's houses. At first giving upwas difficult and friends would tease me about it, but I don't miss alcohol at all now. I drink water when I'm socialising."<br><br>Being more active<br><br>Knowing he should keep active to control his weight, Surjeet briefly considered joining a gym, but settled on a cheaper and more interesting option. "I knew if I did six miles on a treadmill I'd still be in the same spot, but if I walked for six miles outside I'd see things and be in the fresh air," he says. "And a gym would cost me money. So I started walking."<br><br>He enjoys trekking in the countryside andnow walks two or three times a week with friends or Devinder, including a walk of 12 miles or so at the weekends. "I've done the Three Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales three times, and trekked in Ecuador," says Surjeet. When he was 62 he trekked to Mount Everest base camp. "That was tough. It took 12 days, but it was good. I was the oldest man on the expedition."Surjeet also keeps active at home by gardening, and he goes for regular health checks every six months, with retinopathy screening (an eye check) every year. He is keen to educate others about living with diabetes and is chairperson of his local Diabetes UK group. "We meet once a month and have speakers on all aspects of diabetes. People with diabetes come along just to talk and share information," explains Surjeet.<br><br>"There's plenty to learn, not just about managing diabetes, but also about your eyes,your feet andyour weight. It's important to help people learn more, because that's how they work out how to manage their condition. The more they know the better they can look after themselves."

'diabetes and me',<br><br>Care and supportYour essential guide to social care About social care Choosing care services Social care assessments NHS continuing care Mental capacity Carers' wellbeing Home care Care homes Breaks from caring Carers' rights Young carers All care and support topicsServices near you<br><br>Don't miss out .<br><br>Exercise your right to choice in the NHS<br><br>Learn about patient choice nowNewhealthy weightadvice was issued in July 2013 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to south Asian adults.<br><br>If you have aBMI (body mass index) score of 23 or more, youhave anincreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.<br><br>If you're BMI is27.5 or more, you have ahigh risk of developing type 2 diabetes.<br><br>Find outif you're a healthy weight for your height.<br><br>Surjeet, an accountant from Luton,was 50 when he found out he had type 2 diabetes. He had typical symptoms. "I was overweight. I weighed over 12 stone (76kg)and I'm5ft 6in (1.67m)tall. Iwas getting up in the night to pass water, I'd lost some weight and I had blurred vision," he says.<br><br>Surjeet's wife, Devinder, was concerned and urged him to see his GP, who diagnosed diabetes with a blood test. "I suspected it was diabetes, so wasn't shocked when the doctor told me," says Surjeet. "I just thought, 'I need to get on with my life now'."<br><br>His younger brother, who lives in India, has diabetes and Surjeet thinks his grandfather did too. "Neither of my parents had it, but it's in the family."<br><br>Learning about diabetes<br><br>The GP prescribed medication (Glucozide) to control Surjeet's diabetes, but he has never had to take insulin. "I'm living with a progressive condition and one day I might have to start taking insulin," says Surjeet. "I'll deal with that when it happens." The medication has improved his vision and he no longer needs to wear glasses for driving.<br><br>Over the next couple of years, Surjeet read books about diabetes and began to make small changes to his lifestyle, such as cutting out sweets and getting more exercise. "I definitely noticed an improvement in my health," says Surjeet, who now weighs a healthy 10 stone (63.5kg). "Once I changed my lifestyle I felt more active. Generally, I felt pretty good. Istopped feeling lethargic. There was a lot of go in me!"<br><br>Cutting down on gulab jamun<br><br>Surjeetsays it has taken willpower to make the changes he felt were important. "I used to eat a lot of Indian sweets. Devinder makes lovely gulab jamun, but I don't have them now," he says. "And I used to overeat, whereas now I eat less. I'll have just one chapatti with the evening meal, and afterwards I'll have plain yoghurt. I cut down onall my desserts. I'll have custard or ice cream just once a month or so."<br><br>Surjeet also gave up alcohol, and hasn't had a drink for nearly 14 years. Having diabetes doesn't mean you can't have alcohol, butalcohol can cause problems. The adviceabout drinking differs depending on a person's condition and medication. Surjeet decided to give up altogether. "I used to go to the pub with friends, or to weekend parties at people's houses. At first giving upwas difficult and friends would tease me about it, but I don't miss alcohol at all now. I drink water when I'm socialising."<br><br>Being more active<br><br>Knowing he should keep active to control his weight, Surjeet briefly considered joining a gym, but settled on a cheaper and more interesting option. "I knew if I did six miles on a treadmill I'd still be in the same spot, but if I walked for six miles outside I'd see things and be in the fresh air," he says. "And a gym would cost me money. So I started walking."<br><br>He enjoys trekking in the countryside andnow walks two or three times a week with friends or Devinder, including a walk of 12 miles or so at the weekends. "I've done the Three Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales three times, and trekked in Ecuador," says Surjeet. When he was 62 he trekked to Mount Everest base camp. "That was tough. It took 12 days, but it was good. I was the oldest man on the expedition."Surjeet also keeps active at home by gardening, and he goes for regular health checks every six months, with retinopathy screening (an eye check) every year. He is keen to educate others about living with diabetes and is chairperson of his local Diabetes UK group. "We meet once a month and have speakers on all aspects of diabetes. People with diabetes come along just to talk and share information," explains Surjeet.<br><br>"There's plenty to learn, not just about managing diabetes, but also about your eyes,your feet andyour weight. It's important to help people learn more, because that's how they work out how to manage their condition. The more they know the better they can look after themselves."