More people diagnosed with diabetes can now attend free classes to learn how to better manage their condition, thanks to additional funding.
Anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes living in the county can now attend a free course, with more staff and sessions available, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group announced today.
The group’s clinical lead for diabetes, Dr Mark Brooks, said: “You can make a new year’s resolution to learn more about your diabetes.”
The DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) courses, available to anyone with a GP referral, helps people take control of their diabetes, he said.
“It’s really important that people living with diabetes understand their condition, and how they can make changes to their lifestyle which will help them to live a longer and healthier life. This could help to reduce the amount of medication they need to take, as well as improving their chances of living longer without the long term effects of diabetes.”
A patient who attended a DESMOND course described it as “full of information and friendly”.
About 57,000 people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are thought to have diabetes.
The disease can cause serious long-term health problems.
It’s the most common cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age, is responsible for most cases of kidney failure and lower limb amputation, other than accidents.
People with diabetes are also up to five times more likely to have cardiovascular disease, such as a stroke, than those without diabetes.
The day-long DESMOND courses, held throughout Cambridgeshire, help people understand how best to manage their condition.
There are also extra places available on free courses for those with Type 1 diabetes.
The additional courses and the recruitment of additional staff followed a £1.5m government investment in diabetes education and prevention in April last year.
To get a referral or more information speak to your GP.
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