What you can do
If someone is diagnosed with diabetes what advice should I provide?
An explanation of diabetes should be provided, including the difference between Type 1 and Type 2, and first-line advice given, together with supporting written and/or audio and/or visual information from Diabetes UK and your own care team.
Refer to relevant members of the healthcare team and for structured education. If weight loss is appropriate consider referral to a weight management clinic.
Discuss self management and if appropriate start blood glucose or urine monitoring. Consider screening for other health-related conditions.
Recommend that they become a member of Diabetes UK. Direct the patient to the Diabetes UK website and Diabetes UK Careline for confidential general information and support. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5 pm, telephone 0845 120 2960, email careline@diabetes.org.uk
If someone is diagnosed with IGT or IFG what advice should I provide?
IGT and IFG are not clinical entities in their own right, but rather risk categories for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Lifestyle advice should be given, including guidance on physical activity and healthy eating. Advice about physical activity needs to be practical and tailored to the individual.
It is important to advocate a healthy balanced diet that is low in fat, salt and sugar and which includes plenty of fruit and vegetables. If weight loss is appropriate consider referral to a weight management clinic.
Rescreen every three years, or sooner according to clinical need. Someone who has gestational diabetes, for example, who has tested normal following delivery should be screened within six weeks of delivery and the one-year post-partum and then every three years.
What are the benefits of Diabetes UK membership for my patients?
There are seven reasons to become a member:
- A bi-monthly members' magazine, Balance, packed with news and information.
- A wide range of publications with the information people with diabetes need, to lead a full and healthy life.
- The ability to talk in confidence to Diabetes UK Careline about any issue or aspect of diabetes.
- Diabetes UK national and regional offices working to improve diabetes services in your area.
- The chance to share experiences with other people with diabetes through our network of voluntary groups (over 400 nationwide).
- Diabetes UK Services insurance and financial products designed to meet the needs of people with diabetes.
- The chance to help themselves and others with diabetes in the UK.
How can I help get the campaign message across?
Diabetes UK wants to make this its largest and most effective campaign to date, and here’s where you can help:
- Order the campaign materials and display and distribute them in your surgeries and clinics.
- Involve other local organisations and encourage them to help spread the word, eg persuade your local health promotion unit to get involved or display materials at an event.
Diabetes UK will also be asking volunteers interested in campaigning to put pressure on locally to ensure people with diabetes are diagnosed as soon as possible.
Where can I get campaign materials?
Campaign materials can be ordered using the order form in the related information box.
Other materials to help you raise awareness, from tape measures to posters, are also available to order using the form. You may request as many of these free materials as you can effectively use – for a limited time there is no charge for postage.
How will I know if the campaign is successful?
We will feature case studies of people who have been helped by this campaign – so please send in your stories, to: measureup@diabetes.org.uk
Watch this space for further details of the campaign, and you'll find more details in Diabetes Update and Balance.