Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

West Wales people people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are to be screened at the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at Aberystwyth University as part of their annual health checks. The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales (DRSSW) is an all Wales service designed to detect sight threatening diabetic retinopathy at an early stage. DRSSW relocated to the University last month (March) from a Day Centre in Aberystwyth and provides a weekly screening service every Wednesday. The screening team, which consists of two people and specialist equipment, will utilise two of the University’s laboratories during the day and screen approximately 40 patients. Dr Joanne Thatcher, Head of the Sport and Exercise Science Department, explains ”The service that the DRSSW provides is very important in ensuring early treatment and preventing loss of vision in 70-90% of people with sight threatening diabetic retinopathy. Having the DRSSW based at the University will further incre...

People living in Mid and West Wales are being invited to contribute to an important new study into diabetes which is being undertaken at Aberystwyth University. Researchers at the University’s Department of Sport and Exercise Science are looking for 150 volunteers who are willing to take part in the study into the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes. They are keen to recruit volunteers who don’t have type 2 diabetes as well as those who do. The volunteers will be required to visit the department three times over a period of 12 months to provide a blood sample and answer questions about diet and lifestyle. There is an increasing body of research that suggests a link between low levels of vitamin D, caused by a lack of sunlight, and a number of other medical conditions. As recently as the end of January the Chief Medical Officer for England voiced concern at the rise in childhood rickets caused by lack of vitamin D. Other research has suggested a link ...