Free courses and apps to help patients manage diabetes
More than 5.6 million people in the UK are living with diabetes, including one million people who have type 2, but have not yet been diagnosed, according to charity Diabetes UK.
There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2, and but there are also others, including gestational diabetes (which affects some women during pregnancy).
All types of diabetes have one thing in common. Glucose (sugar) cannot reach the body’s cells properly and builds up in the blood.
In the long term, this can cause serious damage to the heart, eyes, feet and kidneys. However, people with diabetes can live well and reduce the risk of these complications with the right care and treatment.
Symptoms of diabetes include:
- Needing to urinate more often
- Being very thirsty
- Cuts are slow to heal
- Weight loss
- Feeling tired
- Blurred eyesight
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak to your GP.
This week is Insulin Safety Week (1 – 7 July) and we are reminding people that Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) offers a number of courses to help patients manage their diabetes.
The courses available will differ depending on where in Essex you live and are listed below:
DAFNE Diabetes
The DAFNE (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating) education programme can help people in Essex live well with type 1 diabetes. Find out more by watching a short video and visiting the EPUT website.
X-PERT Diabetes
The X-PERT programme can help people in west Essex live well with type 2 diabetes. Find out more by watching a short video. Upcoming X-PERT programme dates can be found on the EPUT website.
X-PERT Insulin Programme
The X-PERT Insulin Programme is a structured patient education programme developed for people in west Essex with type 2 diabetes, who specifically require insulin to control blood glucose levels. This will help you explore how diabetes affects your body and how lifestyle changes can help you manage it. Find out more, and how to self-refer by downloading the programme leaflet.
STEP
EPUT’s mid and south Essex diabetes teams are offering a group face-to-face education course to help newly diagnosed type 2 patients effectively self-manage their diabetes, with sessions held once a month at the Hawthorne Centre, Rochford Hospital. If you are interested please call 01702 372081.
Every Carb Counts
Every Carb Counts is a free maths course for those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, to help you count your carbohydrates. The next course is on Monday 22 July from 10.30am to 1.30pm, at Rochford Hospital. For more information or to book, please text 07747 235 861 or email mse.anchor@nhs.net.
myDiabetes Digital App
The myDiabetes app is designed for people with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and is available to patients in mid and south Essex. It is designed by experts, for patients, and it can help you to improve your knowledge, monitor your diabetes and manage your risk factors.
Please call the diabetes service admin team on 01702 372081 to request access, or email the service at epunft.diabetes.education@nhs.net. You can also request a type 2 diabetes education pack.