Coping with urges and cravings Dr Rebecca Richards gave us a presentation on how to deal with urges and cravings. This is applicable not just to resisting the temptation of biscuits and cakes, but dealing with any unwanted thoughts. The fancy term for the method is ‘cognitive defusion’, which is itself based on acceptance and…
Meeting notes
Healthy You services
The services include prevention of obesity, healthy eating, exercise, adult weight management, stop smoking services, falls prevention and NHS health checks. Currently all services are delivered virtually. Adult weight management A 12 week course open to anyone motivated to lose weight and with a BMI greater than 25. There are nutritionist-led group discussions, fun exercise…
Updates on services and a new trial
East Anglia Eye Screening Service update We welcomed Nadine Rash, Deputy Programme Manager, East Anglia Diabetic Eye Screening Programme to give an update on their services. The main eye screening service was suspended mid-march to mid-July, the only exceptions being high risk and pregnant patients. Since the service resumed they have seen patients with mild eye…
Diabetes & Covid-19
We welcomed Eddie Johnston, Research Communications Officer, Diabetes UK to tell us about what research has shown about the risks of Covid-19 to those with diabetes. He gave a very interesting talk, which was based on data collected and analysed up to June this year. The main points were: There is no evidence so far…
Q & A with Firs House Surgery
Questions from the HI Diabetes Support Group, answers from Marie Rouse, Firs House SurgeryHOW FIRS HOUSE DEALS WITH PATIENTS WITH DIABETES – PRE-COVID 19Several years ago you saw a nurse+GP for annual check, and nurse for 6 months, with test results sent afterwards by letter. Now it seems that it is just yourself as Advanced Practitioner Nurse that sees patients. No…
Type 2 Diabetes: How we put it into remission
For this meeting two group members told the story of how they were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and how they moved forward into remission. M began to tell his story. He never felt he was obese. His father was T2D and he felt it was inevitable. He was diagnosed 15 years ago and was…
Diabetes: Eye screening & Covid-19
We welcomed Nadine Rash to give a talk at the group’s second virtual meeting. Nadine is Quality Assurance Manager and Deputy Programme Manager for the East Anglia Eye Screening Service and was accompanied by her colleague Clare Gillibrand, Engagement Officer, who is responsible for contacts with Diabetes UK, doctors surgeries, events, etc. The service is…
Diabetes – Exercise & peripheral neuropathy
We welcomed Clare Strongman to give a talk at the group’s first virtual meeting. Clare is a specialist diabetes exercise instructor, and runs the GP exercise referral scheme at Impington Sports Centre. She is also a PhD student at Anglia Ruskin University studying exercise intervention into peripheral neuropathy. A copy of Clare’s slide presentation can…
Low carb diets & remission of Type 2 diabetes
We welcomed Marie Rouse, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Diabetes Specialist Nurse from Firs House Surgery. Marie explained exactly what diabetes is and the different types. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, where the body’s cells stop responding to insulin or the beta cells of the pancreas are unable to produce sufficient amounts of…
Routine foot care for diabetes
We welcomed Lorraine King, a fully qualified Foot Care Practitioner whose business Toe-Tal Footcare is based nearby in Impington. Lorraine began by telling us some uncomfortable statistics which emphasised the importance of looking after your feet if you suffer from diabetes. Diabetes care costs the NHS £10B per year, but of that £0.5B goes towards the…