Adults' Services
Diabetes Service
The Diabetes Service offers a multidisciplinary team approach for adults with diabetes, with clinics staffed by Consultant Diabetologists, Diabetes Specialist Nurses and Specialist Diabetes Dietitians.
About our service
The diabetes service offers a comprehensive service for adults with diabetes. The service provides a multidisciplinary team approach, with clinics staffed by Consultant Diabetologists, Diabetes Specialist Nurses and Specialist Diabetes Dietitians. We provide virtual and face to face clinics and education.
Our team
| Service Clinical Manager: Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) |
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| Consultant Diabetologists |
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Diabetes Clinical Specialist Nurses |
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Diabetes Specialist Nurses |
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Team PA and Administrators |
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Key services
The team provides highly specialist treatment, advice and training in:
- Consultant and Nurse led multidisciplinary clinics, virtual and face to face.
- Specialist clinics with dietitians.
- Comprehensive diabetes care that includes:
- Type 1 service,
- Insulin pump service,
- Type 2 service,
- Continuous glucose monitoring: initiation and monitoring,
- Pre-conception care,
- Initiation of injectable therapy including GLP-1 agonist and insulin,
- MDT Clinics with GP practices,
- Home visits where required,
- Support to Community Nursing teams,
- Diabetes education to Healthcare Professionals,
- Community health events: providing health checks.
Diabetes education programmes
DAFNE (Type 1)
DAFNE (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating) is a structured education patient programme in intensive insulin therapy and self-management for people with Type 1 diabetes.
Patients must have type 1 diabetes for a least six months, be aged 18 or older, must speak and have a good understanding of English, be willing to inject insulin and test their blood glucose at least 4 times daily, and be comfortable being in a group.
About the course
The course aims to help people living with Type1 diabetes lead as normal life as possible, whilst maintaining blood glucose, to reduce the risk of long term diabetes complications.
The DAFNE course is about learning from experience. The course is based on the skills of insulin adjustment to accommodate lifestyle factors including:
- Variations in carbohydrate intake,
- Exercise,
- Alcohol,
- Eating out,
- Illness management.
How the course is delivered
Face to Face DAFNE
The face to face course is delivered over 5-days (either Monday to Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., or one day per week for 5 weeks), with a DAFNE Educator (Diabetes Specialist Nurse or Dietitian).
Remote DAFNE
The course is delivered over 5 weeks on Microsoft Teams with a DAFNE Educator (Diabetes Specialist Nurse or Dietitian).
Patient stories
The DAFNE course has had a profound impact on my diabetes management the skills and knowledge I gained have empowered me to make informed decisions about my health and lifestyle. The combination of outstanding delivery, patience professionalism, kindness, and approachability of the facilitators made this course and invaluable experience.
It is very useful to speak to other diabetics about the issues we all face and get some ideas for strategies to use.
I didn’t really know what to expect, but I will say that I am very happy to have attended it eventually as my glucose levels have improved since. I feel more informed than I have ever been, despite being diabetic for 30 years.
Where can I get more information?
X-PERT INSULIN (Type 2)
(eXpert Patient Education v Routine Treatment)
The X-PERT insulin programme is a six-week group diabetes education programme for patients with Type 2 diabetes to help people develop the knowledge and confidence to manage their own health and improve their quality of life.
You will learn all about the up-to-date treatments and management of diabetes and will have the opportunity to explore and address problems or issues that you may have with your diabetes.
About the course
This programme aims to increase your understanding about the management of Diabetes, encourages you to make healthier lifestyle choices and participate in decisions about your care.
X-pert Insulin has been shown to:
- Reduce the amount of diabetes tablets taken and/or doses of insulin,
- Improve blood glucose levels,
- Reduce blood pressure,
- Reduce the risk of complications of Diabetes,
- Lose weight,
- Adopt a healthier way of eating,
- Increase your confidence and ability to look after your health,
- Reduce depression and improve quality of life.
How the course is delivered
Face to face
The course is delivered over 6 weeks with a Diabetes Specialist Nurse and Dietitian.
Virtual
The course is delivered over six sessions on Microsoft Teams for 2 ½ hours with a Diabetes Specialist Nurse and Dietitian.
Patient stories
Useful and helpful sessions enabled me to better manage my diabetes. Less insulin required, more stable levels and reduced HbA1c.
Learned a lot and useful information and apps to help progress. Much deeper understanding of diabetes. The x-pert insulin handbook is an excellent resource very informative and also can be used to refresh knowledge and any further questions going forward.
Educators were extremely knowledgeable and I now have a better understanding of what to do going forward which I would not have if I hadn’t been on this course.
Where can I get more information?
- www.xperthealth.org.uk
- Free X-PERT newsletter: admin@xperthealth.org.uk
- Free X-PERT online forum: www.xperthealth.org.uk/forums
Resources
Patient information leaflets
- TREND Diabetes offers a wide selection of patient information leaflets.
Referrals
Diabetes Service Referral Form: Community
Diabetes Inpatient referrals: please send referrals to bchc.inpatientdiabetes@nhs.net