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New support group launches in Leicester

A new group to support people living with or affected by diabetes is launching in Leicester supported by a team from DeMontfort University. 

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The group’s first meeting will be held on Saturday, 28 April between 3pm and 5pm at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, Rothley Street, Leicester.

People living with Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, as well as friends, family and carers of those affected by the condition, are welcome to come along to find out more about the condition and share experiences with other people from the area.

The driving force behind the new group are DeMontfort University technicians Dr Ketan Ruparelia and Nazmin Juma. They are both Diabetes UK community champions, trained by us in a programme that supports people and raises awareness of diabetes in local communities.

They are joined by their colleague Unmesh Desai, who lives with Type 2 diabetes and is studying for a PhD focusing on the condition. All three (pictured left to right: Unmesh, Nazmin and Ketan) have lived in Leicester for a number of years and are committed to raising awareness of the condition and helping people in the community manage it better.

Nazmin said: “We know from our work as community champions that supporting people living with diabetes is so important and we are really keen to support our local community.

“We also want to raise awareness of Type 2 diabetes and what people can do to reduce or even prevent themselves from developing the condition.

“The more people know the risk factors and take action to live healthier lives now, the better their futures will be, I hope people come along on Saturday to meet us and we can make plans for future meetings.”

There will also be information from Diabetes UK about education courses, and other essentials to help people take control and better manage their condition on a day-to-day basis.

Our local groups offer people living with diabetes and their families a chance to meet and share experiences with others who are experiencing the same issues. As well as providing support and information, local groups also offer the opportunity to get involved in fundraising, campaigning to improve local diabetes services, social events and awareness raising activities.

Suzanne Smith, Diabetes UK Senior Volunteer Development Lead for the Midlands and East, said: “We have worked closely with the committee to help set up this new group, which will offer support to people with diabetes in Leicester.

“The meetings are a great opportunity for people of all ages to meet each other regularly, offer peer support and share tips on how to successfully manage the condition. I hope as many people as possible will come along to see what a local group can offer them.”

To register your interest or for more information please contact Dr Ruparelia on 07557 415735 or email diabetesukleicester@gmail.com.

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