An Angus community patient education programme has won an award at the Scottish Diabetes Conference.
The numbers of patients diagnosed with the condition in Tayside continues to rise each year and in Angus there are 4895 people living with diabetes.
The conference brought together consultants, GPs, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals providing diabetes care to enable the sharing of good practice in the healthcare community in Scotland.
The award-winning programme was created by staff from Angus Community Health Partnership (CHP).
Rhona Peters, specialist diabetes dietician, Charlotte Anderson, diabetes nurse advisor and Angus CHP’s nutrition and dietetic manager Linda Grieve won the award in the Primary Care category with their diabetes education project-a group education update programme for people living with Type 2 diabetes.
The programme was developed to meet a gap in educational opportunities and to provide accurate, up- to-date information, in an informal environment where people can ask questions and learn from each other.
The programme, initiated by Charlotte Anderson, is delivered by a dietician and diabetes nurse adviser in health centres and comprises two sessions, each lasting two-and-half-hours.
The sessions are designed to be informal and encourage patient participation and exchange of personal experiences. Group members have an opportunity to identify their learning needs, so issues of individual concern can be addressed.
Patients and carers are able to discuss topics related to living with diabetes and patients are issued with education packs.
Feedback from patients and health care professionals has been very positive.
Ms Peters said, “It is important that all patients with diabetes have the opportunity to receive the education and support they need at regular intervals, to enable them to manage their own condition. This programme aims to increase patients’ knowledge and understanding of diabetes and increase confidence in self management.
“The programme is proving very successful and has been offered to patient groups within Angus at GP practices in Arbroath, Edzell, Friockheim and Montrose.”