One in three people (34 per cent) would turn to the internet for medical advice first over talking to a healthcare professional about a health concern, new research from Diabetes UK has revealed.

The poll of more than 2,000 UK adults, carried out on behalf of the charity by YouGov, also showed that while threequarters of people (75 per cent) said they would feel comfortable talking about a friend or loved one’s health condition, only 65 per cent said they’d feel comfortable talking to friends or loved ones about their own health.

In light of these findings and to coincide with Diabetes Week 2018 (11-17 June), Diabetes UK has produced a list of top tips to encourage people with diabetes to have conversations they may have avoided having with their healthcare professional team, as well as a separate list to help healthcare professionals sensitively approach conversations with their patients who are living with diabetes.

Dan Howarth head of care at Diabetes UK, highlighted the trustworthy expert advice available on the Diabetes UK website and added: “This diabetes week we want to help people live better with diabetes, by giving them tools and tips to start tricky conversations, and get the support they really need.”