How I manage my weight - long-term.

Abdul Rais talks about how to live healthily with a South Asian background. He suggests reducing the amount you eat and increasing physical activity may be the key. He explains that being overweight may have been seen as healthy in the past but he would advocate being as lean as possible. He also discusses salt, sugar and oils.

Daniel talks passionately about how his relationship with his healthcare provide team put him very much in the driving seat of his care. He made it clear that he wanted to know everything and be fully involved in making decision with regards to his health. This worked very well for him. He also acknowledges that this may not be the best situation for everyone. Daniel also takes pains to stress that he knows he's not an Endocrinologist and that he always discusses his thoughts and ideas with his healthcare providers in order to get a better understanding of the science involved.

Abdul Rais talks about his experiences of diet and food. He explains that due to his background he doesn’t routinely eat very rich South Asian food! He talks about the usual things he eat on day to day basis. Abdul Rais admits he loves rice - but does limit how much he eats in a meal. Lastly he talks about takeaways and eating out and fried food.

Salma Mehar, Consultant Diabetes Dietician, says that meal planning has to be practical. She also talks about how meal planning needs to be sensitive to cultural issues, religious beliefs and also cost. Salma talks about how diet can be challenging for some ethnic groups but that there are many meal plans available for people on online resources. She then talks about portion control especially when eating out and at festivals and controlling the amount of Carbohydrate you eat.

Steve talks about his strategy with his health. He says that most issues with Diabetes can be dealt with or treated if picked up. He explains that there are people who will be able to help if problems are picked up. That help or support can be from various groups including Doctors but also Peer group support and others.

Chris talks movingly about Stigma he has experienced around having Type 1 Diabtes as a young person and later. He tells a story from school where the schools arrangements for him to get his lunch first in the school hall led to painful comments from his class fellows. He also talks about more recent disapproving comments or impressions from people if he's seen to be drinking a can of Coke when his blood sugar is low. Chris explains that knowledge and awareness will improve these situations and draws parallels with his experiences of his parents moving from Wales into London and being 'other' to the norm.