THE vital importance of monitoring your personal health is the theme at a meeting of Low Carb Skipton to be held next week.

One of the main strands of the evening will be the effective monitoring of blood glucose levels for Type 2s, Type 1s and those who are pre-diabetic.

Low Carb Skipton founder Verner Wheelock said: "All medical experts believe that monitoring blood glucose levels is essential for diabetics but there seems to be quite a disparity in just how frequent this testing should be."

The group - which has members in Craven, Airedale and Wharfedale - will also highlight the need for improved early detection of diabetes. Over the past few years there has been an overwhelming body of evidence showing that many people have Type 2 diabetes without knowing it.

The meeting will also look at the monitoring cholesterol levels and body weight, as well as the issues surrounding insulin resistance.

Low Carb Skipton is a voluntary group which promotes what it sees as the many health benefits of low carbohydrate eating to diabetics, people with other serious conditions or those who want to lose weight. Their low carb approach to diabetes is echoed by an increasing number of scientists and doctors, but is still not actively practised by the majority of GPs.

The LCS meeting, which is open to everyone, will be held at the Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton at 7pm on Monday, February 11.

For more information on the group or the forthcoming meeting contact Verner Wheelock on 01535 636008 or at verner.wheelock@vwa.co.uk.