Diabetes is a condition where your blood glucose (sugar) level is too high. This happens when your body either doesn't produce enough insulin or can't effectively use the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose enter your cells to be used for energy. When glucose can't enter the cells, it builds up in the blood, leading to various health problems.
Have the 4 Ts? It could be diabetes:
Toilet - going to the toilet a lot?
Thirsty - unable to quench your thirst?
Tired - feeling more tired than usual?
Thinner - losing weight?
If you have any of symptoms of diabetes, you should contact your general practice.
Early diagnosis of diabetes, treatment and good control are vital for good health and reduce the chances of developing serious complications.
More about the services commissioned to support people living with diabetes can be found below.
NHS Kent and Medway offers the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme, aimed at people with type 2 diabetes. The 12-month weight loss programme begins with a 3-month period where the patient is placed on a low calorie soups and shake diet. This is 800 calories per day across 4 soup or shake servings.
Along with supplementary lifestyle advice, education and behaviour change coaching, the programme shows significant weight loss in the first 3 month period, which provides an opportunity for remission over the remaining 9 months and beyond. More details can be found on the provider website, with referrals to be made via the GP.
Around 131,000 people in Kent and Medway are living with diabetes (statistics from 2024).
If someone is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and is aged over 18 and not pregnant, then they are eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Eligibility can be confirmed via a blood test or using the diabetes 'know your risk' tool.
This programme provides education about exercise, diet and mental health, along with providing other advice which can help reduce the chances of developing diabetes. The sessions are primarily held local venues, offering people an interactive education course and the opportunity to help keep diabetes at bay.
myDiabetes is an online platform which provides access to educational support for those with diabetes. The service, is provided by my mhealth.
Following a referral from a GP or clinician, patients are asked to fill in details, such as their blood glucose levels or BMI, to tailor the delivery of the service to their needs.
Upon being referred by a clinician, they can access the myDiabetes platform by visiting the mymhealth website or download the application on an iPhone or Android device.
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a device for people with diabetes that lets them check their glucose (sugar) levels at any time. It lets them see patterns in their levels and check if their blood glucose is too high or low. It can help people control their blood glucose levels and take action quickly. The technology reduces the need for finger-prick testing by giving people a continuous stream of real-time information on a smartphone about current blood glucose levels.
Those eligible for CGM in Kent and Medway:
This applies to those devices that can be prescribed on prescription (e.g. Freestyle Libre 2 plus, Dexcom One plus). Some devices will only be available from a specialist team (e.g. Dexcom G6, G7). There is more information about this on the NHS website.
The Diabetes Education Referral Hub is for people who have received a diabetes diagnosis (Type 1 or Type 2) and would benefit from structured education programmes.
The hub is not just for people that are newly diagnosed, anyone in Kent and Medway who has been diagnosed with diabetes can use the hub to access to structured education courses to help them with their illness.
Patients being referred to the service must be aged 18 or over. If a patient is under 18, they fall under paediatric diabetic care, which the hub does not support.
People can 'self-refer' to the Diabetes Education Referral Hub by visiting the hub's website and creating an account.
If a referral is made by a clinician, Spirit Healthcare, who have created and manage the hub, will contact the patient's GP to obtain the required diagnosis and medical information.
Upon receiving the information, they will then contact the patient and provide them access to book education diabetes courses.
Once people receive access to the hub, they should follow the steps below to reserve a place on the course.
The DigiBete app and website offers education, training and support resources for children and young people with type 1 diabetes.
Adults living with type 1 diabetes can access videos and online courses to help manage their condition through the MyType1Diabetes platform.
Healthy Living is a free online programme clinically proven to help people with type 2 diabetes live well. It provides information and support to help participants adopt healthy lifestyle choices.
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