Western Trust supports people with diabetes
10/06/2011
People living with diabetes and those with an interest in the condition are being encouraged to attend two events being held by the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) to mark Diabetes Week - 12-18 June 2011.
Diabetes is on the increase in Northern Ireland, as it is worldwide, and the Western Trust area saw the largest increase in Northern Ireland in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes last year. In the Western Trust area during 2009/10 there were 11,567 people living with diabetes. This reflects a 7% increase from the number of people with diabetes registered during 2008/09.
As part of Diabetes Week events, the psychology team will give a talk on the ‘Psychological Impact of Diabetes’ on Wednesday, 15 June, at 6pm in Agnes Jones House, Altnagelvin Hospital. This presentation will be of interest to anyone living with diabetes, their carers and healthcare team. Further information is available by calling 02871345171 (ext: 4815).
Members of the Diabetes Support Team will also be at an information stand in the foyer of the Western Trust’s Altnagelvin Hospital from 2.30pm to 4.30pm each day during Diabetes Week to answer any questions people may have.
Dr John Lindsay, Western Trust consultant physician in diabetes and endocrinology, said: “Learning to live with diabetes can be challenging and support is available from a range of healthcare professionals for diabetes within the Western Trust area.
“Proper management and treatment of diabetes is required to reduce the potential for serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, amputation and kidney failure.”
Support to people living with diabetes is provided by GPs, practice nurses, consultants, diabetes specialist nurses, dietitians, podiatrists, podiatry assistants, exercise professionals, psychologists and pharmacists. All provide the patient with support to put the pieces of the ‘diabetes jigsaw’ together. There is a specialised paediatric team also to support children with diabetes and their families.
As well as diabetes clinics, there are also structured education programmes for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. These have been found to be extremely effective in terms of de-mystifying how diabetes works and offering practical support in how to manage all aspects of diabetes.
For more information on the services and how to access them, please contact the Diabetes Network Office at Altnagelvin Hospital, Tel: 02871345171 (ext: 3504/3074).