‘Falls are most commonly associated with hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels),’ says Dr Deed. ‘And a higher percentage of people with type 1 are likely to experience this complication.
‘For people with type 2, being elderly, having a long-standing health issue (such as kidney disease) and the use of insulin or sulphonylureas increase this risk.
‘The other group at risk is people with diabetes on blood pressure medication. Excessive or incorrect dosage may lower their blood pressure too far.’
Dr Deed recommends taking the following steps to safeguard against falls (with the help of your diabetes healthcare team):
· Aim to keep your blood glucose levels steady
· Maintain a healthy weight
· Move as much as possible