Help Control Diabetes In Clackmannanshire

Health professionals in NHS Forth Valley are inviting people in Clackmannanshire who have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, to become involved in a pilot education programme which can result in better quality of life, weight loss,improved blood glucose control and in some cases, a reduction in diabetes medications.

The X-PERT project will run over the next year, initially from Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre although premises in other areas of the wee county are also being considered. Each course comprises one two and a half hour session a week for six weeks and aims to help people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes over the past 12 months, to manage their condition more effectively.

The sessions will concentrate on diet and lifestyle. NHS Forth Valley Diabetes Specialist Dietitian Victoria Connolly said: “Type 2 diabetes is becoming much more common because of changing lifestyles. We know from a national audit that this programme has demonstrated significant improvements. Positive results include a decrease in weight and cholesterol and in some cases people have been able to reduce their diabetes medications. This is a chance for people to gain a much better quality of life.”

Those most at risk from Type 2 Diabetes – known as late-onset diabetes - are over 40 and white, or over 25 and black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group. Women with a waist of 3l.5 inches or more are advised to have a blood sugar check. So too are Asian men with a waist measuring upwards of 35 inches – and white or black men whose girth is 37 inches plus.

13,500 people in Forth Valley have been diagnosed with diabetes - that’s 4.5% per cent of the population. Almost 90 per cent of these have Type 2 diabetes.

People in Clackmannanshire  who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes within the past 12 months and who would like to improve their health should contact Victoria Connolly by phone on 01786 454595 or e mail: Victoria.connolly@nhs.net for more information about the X-Pert programme.