The type two diabetes crisis hitting Wales following the Covid-19 pandemic – Wales Online

It will be many years before we understand the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns.

However one thing that is clear already is the impact the last 20 months have had on those living with type two diabetes.

In 2020 an additional 10,695 people were diagnosed with diabetes meaning more than 209,015 people in Wales are now living with diabetes. This is 8% of the population aged 17 and over – the highest prevalence in the UK. Of this number, around 90% of cases are type two diabetes.

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Beverley Steer, from Bridgend, found lockdown had a life-altering impact on her body after she was diagnosed with type two diabetes.

Prior to the pandemic, in November 2019, Beverley was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She underwent chemotherapy in the first lockdown in March 2020 and her surgery was scheduled in July 2020 as hospitals opened up slightly.

Beverley was diagnosed with type two diabetes during the pandemic and is now working to reverse her diagnosis
(Image: Beverley Steer)

“Then I was starting to make a pretty good recovery when the second lockdown hit,” Beverly explained.

However a large surgery, paired with being on immunosuppressants during a global pandemic in which Wales was in another lockdown, meant the 53-year-old’s health took a turn.

“So isolating, recovering from surgery, on immunosuppressants, feeling pretty rubbish, there’s only two things to do: eat chocolate and watch telly,” Beverley explained.

Understandably Beverley gained weight at this time. “It made me feel awful,” she said.

During this time Beverley noticed she was feeling several other side effects including drowsiness causing her to sleep for 16 hours of the day. She initially believed this was due to her treatment but she had a concern about diabetes and raised this with her GP.

Because of lockdown Beverley said accessing a GP appointment was difficult with phone waits in excess of 20 minutes “if you’re lucky.” Other times the phone line would be too busy and she would be told to call back later.

Once she eventually secured an appointment it was confirmed that Beverley’s blood sugars were high and she was diagnosed with type two diabetes.

Helen Thomas, also from Bridgend, has lived with type two diabetes for almost 20 years but noticed a stark difference in her health after March 2020.

Helen has had diabetes for almost 20 years
(Image: Helen Thomas)

Prior to the pandemic the 55-year-old would swim two to three times a week, which was a great technique for lowering …….

Source: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/lockdown-covid-impact-diabetes-two-22135596