​HAMPSHIRE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SUPPORT DIABETES WELLNESS DAY

The Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation (DRWF), a national diabetes charity with headquarters on Hayling Island in Hampshire, is bringing together leading health professionals from across the region to provide advice for people living with all forms of diabetes at the Ninth Annual Diabetes Wellness Day – South, on Saturday 22^nd July, at The Solent Hotel, Whiteley.

The charity works with specialist diabetes teams from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Solent NHS Trust, Southampton and Portsmouth University Hospitals and the West Hampshire Community Diabetes Service, to bring together a wealth of diabetes information under one roof for people living with all forms of Diabetes. Family members, friends and carers, and those with an interest in diabetes, are also encouraged to take part.

Diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, is a growing problem across the UK, the latest research from analytic database company EXASOL suggest that there will be five million diabetes diagnoses by 2020, five years sooner than previously thought^[i].

In the South East in 2016, there were 63 prescriptions of type 2 diabetes medication for every 100 people, up from 45 prescriptions in 2011^[ii] - a rise of 40% in five years. This can be viewed per Town/Area as follows:

Type 2 diabetes prescriptions per 100 people in 2016

Isle of Wight

67.2

Gosport

66.3

Havant

61.0

Portsmouth

53.2

Eastleigh

49.4

Fareham

43.9

Southampton

43.2

“The research by Exasol has uncovered the growing numbers of type 2 diabetes in the UK. We know people living with type 2 diabetes benefit from a better understanding and improving their knowledge and practical skills they need to improve life with diabetes and find the keys to healthier living, which is why the diabetes wellness day is so important.

“However the day is designed for people living with all forms of diabetes as everyone can benefit; it is designed to ensure all participants have the opportunity to raise questions, share experiences and enjoy the support of a friendly, like-minded, diabetes community in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.” Explained DRWF CEO Sarah Tutton.

The programme will focus on the many key areas that affect people living with diabetes. This year’s programme covers:

Understanding Glucose

Treatments and Medications

Understanding the HbA1c test

Managing hypos and hypers

How to test effectively and what to do with the results

Preventing Complications

Looking after your feet

Healthy eyes and retinal screening

Looking after your kidneys

Importance of good diabetes management

Keeping Well

Diet and healthy food choices

Diabetes and exercise

Sick day rules - what to do when you are ill

What to expect at your diabetes consultation and the nine essential checks

Feeling Supported

Peer support and community self help

Transitional care - paediatric to adult care

Diabetes burnout and how to avoid it

Signposting to helpful diabetes resources

As well as the talks there is an exhibition room which forms the hub of the day, giving delegates the opportunity to visit the diabetes and health related stands to talk to the experts and healthcare professionals who will be on hand to offer advice on diet, health, lifestyle and the latest blood-glucose meters and diabetes related products and services.

There is a £5 registration fee which includes the full programme of talks and activities, access to the exhibition hall, all-day refreshments, a hot sit down lunch and free parking.

One of DRWF’s long standing supporters is leading provider of clinical information software, Hicom, who will be attending on 22^nd July. Product manager for clinical information systems at Hicom, Jon Elburn, comments: “We believe that DRWF’s wellness days are crucial for raising awareness of the research being undertaken and supporting those with the condition, their family and their friends. They also provide access to the latest educational material being developed by DRWF in conjunction with leading healthcare professionals. Additionally, attendees have the opportunity to learn about the change approach to their care and how technology is utilised to connect community, primary, secondary and acute care.”

Further information can be found on the DRWF website www.drwf.org.uk

ENDS

Comparison maps 2011 to 2016 available

[i] Five million estimate: Original five million estimate came from a widely quoted APHO 2010 model estimating that by 2025 there will be 4,189,229 million people with diabetes in England, 371,310 people in Scotland, 287,929 people in Wales and an estimated 109,000 Northern Ireland. Exasol research based on NHS prescribing data and forecasting trends based on prescribing increases 2011-2016 and expected population growth.

[ii] Prescribing data from http://content.digital.nhs.uk/gpprescribingdata - a list of all prescriptions given by GPs and subsequently dispensed in England (from January 2011 to December 2016). Analysed by analytic database company, EXASOL.