Diabetes Education Self Management Newly Diagnosed and Ongoing Diabetes (DESMOND) education groups are for anyone with Type 2 diabetes. Up to 15 people with Type 2 diabetes and their support people attend a one-day course.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. This high blood sugar is called hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is the most common cause of hyperglycemia.
If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly. Your body has become insulin resistant. At first, to keep your blood glucose normal, your pancreas makes extra insulin. Over time your pancreas can’t make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels. Diabetes is diagnosed when your HBA1c test is greater than 50 mmol/mol on two occasions.
HBA1c test
This is a blood test that measures the average amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood over the last 3 months. Glucose sticks to red blood cells. The more glucose on the red blood cells, the higher your average blood glucose is. High blood glucose or hyperglycemia over many years causes damage to your blood circulation. This is what leads to the complications of diabetes – including heart attacks, foot problems and loss of sight.
Everyone has some glucose in their blood stream. An HBA1c for people without diabetes is between 20 and 40.
If your HBA1c is above 40 but below 50, then you have pre-diabetes. This can be managed or even reversed through lifestyle change. You can learn more by going to the Walking Away course.
If your HBA1c is 50 or more you can learn about Type 2 diabetes and how to manage it by attending the DESMOND course.
DESMOND will help you:
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Understand your Type 2 diabetes
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Relate Type 2 diabetes to other long-term health problems such as heart disease and sight loss.
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Recognize changes you can make to help manage your diabetes
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Make clear and achievable goals to help manage your diabetes
Support after DESMOND
Some people set the goal of improving their psychological well-being after attending DESMOND. We encourage people to use a wide range of support services through Books On Prescription, or using web sites or telephone support as listed on the Mental Health Foundation Website.
Other people want more advice on improving their diet. The Healthy Lifestyle Groups are designed to help you learn more about diet than we can share in a 1-day course.
Some people have more than one dietary issue that is affecting their health. You can be referred to see one of our dietitians to help you navigate the differences in your two diets.
How do I get onto a DESMOND course?
Ask your GP and/or Practice Nurse about whether DESMOND is right for you when you have an appointment to review your diabetes.
If you would like to self-refer to DESMOND please contact the DESMOND administrator via email or phone 0800 800 249
Diabetes Education Self Management Newly Diagnosed and Ongoing Diabetes (DESMOND) education groups are for anyone with Type 2 diabetes.