Scheme to tackle diabetes

Dr Hyder Abbas

A UNIQUE programme to help patients with type 2 diabetes has been launched in Glodwick by NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The new seven-week programme, "Empowering People to Manage their Diabetes Successfully", aims to help patients learn more about their condition and how best to manage it.

It has been created by Oldham CCG's Glodwick Cluster, which brings together practice staff, GPs, nurses and other clinicians across the local area.

Each patient will receive a comprehensive book, information folder and a health record to take them through the process.

Glodwick Cluster GP and Clinical Director for Endocrinology, Dr Hyder Abbas, said: "We are excited to be launching this new service, and keen to promote it to patients living in the Glodwick Cluster area.

"It's so important that we tackle type 2 diabetes from a preventative angle, and by providing patients with this opportunity we hope to be able to raise awareness, empower individuals and families and ultimately reduce the number of people being diagnosed with this preventable disease over the coming months."

The programme uses the "X-PERT Diabetes Programme" approach, devised by research dietician Dr Trudi Deakin, to deliver a structured educational course that meets the key criteria identified by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the Department of Health and Diabetes UK.

It will be delivered by a team of locally-based trainers and can be taught in English, Urdu, Punjabi or Bangla and is culturally sensitive to the relevant religions and lifestyles across the local community.

The dietary focus of the course is centred on a typical South Asian diet and life-sized food plates will be used to help patients understand portion sizes.

To encourage healthy choices and understand food labelling, a local supermarket tour is also included.

Patients will also receive a free pedometer and will be encouraged to take the "10,000 steps a day" challenge, supported by Oldham Community Leisure, who will be on hand to take patients on a guided tour of two local leisure centres, giving them the opportunity to hear about the benefits of regular exercise.

Patients who complete the programme will be offered a voucher for free leisure centre membership for two months and a voucher for a community cookery course as well as a certificate.