Education programme for diabetes sufferers in Mid Ulster

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) which covers Mid Ulster has introduced a new patient education programme for people with Type 2 diabetes to assist with condition management and prevent avoidable complications.
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Entitled DESMOND, it is a structured education programme for patients with type 2 diabetes aiming to provide education and support to 1,000 patients within the Northern Trust area.

There are approximately 800 newly diagnosed patients in the Northern Trust area per annum and the programme would aim to educate 500 of these newly diagnosed patients each year and provide the programme to a further 500 patients with established Type 2 diabetes with high risk complications.

The Trust provides a two centre model that delivers DESMOND structured education programmes across 4 localities. The delivery of the programme is by registered health care professionals who have a working knowledge of diabetes and an interest and experience in working with patients with diabetes. The trainers have all attended a formal training course with DESMOND.

Priority is given to people with a new diagnosis and to people with diabetes management problems that could result in long term complications or hospital admissions.

Angela McErlane, Clinical Services Manager for Specialist Medicine said: “As the incidence of type 2 diabetes increases there is a corresponding increase in diabetic complications including retinopathy, renal disease, ulceration and amputation. Without patient education, there will in all likelihood be increases in ED attendances, hospital admissions and community ulcer management, therefore this programme is a valuable programme for patients to extend their knowledge.”

Patients interested in the programme should speak to their GP or healthcare professional for more information.

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