Diabetes Smart is a free course to support local people living with type 1 and 2 diabetes.
The free course is facilitated by our trained professionals. It’s an opportunity for people to learn about making positive lifestyle changes and managing their pre diabetes and type 1 and 2 diabetes. If you wish to bring someone with you to the session please inform us when booking your place.
Our free and informative course is designed to help people:
- think smart – differently about their diagnosis
- act smart – make informed choices (healthy eating, physical activity, self-care)
- live smart – manage their diabetes /pre-diabetes on a daily basis
How the course is delivered
It’s recommended that everyone who books onto the course attends a core session first. This session focuses on what diabetes is and how people can manage their condition and is available face to face or virtually.
Following attendance on the core session there are 7 face to face practical modules people can choose from:
- healthy lifestyle: healthy food choices and support to manage weight (2 sessions, 2 hrs per session)
- carbohydrate awareness: what carbohydrates are and how they affect blood glucose levels (2 hr session)
- reading and understanding food labels: using food labels to guide food choices (1.5 to 2 hour session)
- keeping well with diabetes: how to prevent potential health problems linked with diabetes (2 hour session)
- physical activity: benefits of physical activity and ways to get more active (1.5 to 2 hr session)
- review session: opportunity to review how people are managing their pre diabetes/diabetes, revisiting ways of managing the conditions and sharing top tips (2 hr session)
A letter to employers informing them of the importance of diabetes group learning sessions and advising them of your appointments can be made available on request.
Download the Diabetes Smart leaflet
Feedback from people who have attended the course:
William from West Kirby, who had type 2 diabetes, has attended our course and since making some small lifestyle changes his blood glucose has dropped from 52 to 42.
He said, “Diabetes Smart helped me to understand that type 2 diabetes was linked to the sugar levels in the blood and not to your actual sugar intake. The programme has helped me make changes to my lifestyle; I’ve cut down on alcohol and I follow a strict diet. I found the carbohydrate awareness session really useful – it made me aware of what carbohydrates are and how they affect blood glucose levels. I’ve lost over four stone – an achievement I’m really proud of. I feel more active and a lot happier.
I’d recommend Diabetes Smart to everyone. You learn things you don’t think about and are encouraged to try different foods. It’s a very informative programme.”
Watch Barbara’s Diabetes Smart story below on YouTube – a video of Barbara’s experience of the Diabetes Smart programme and how it has helped her:
Barbara’s Diabetes Smart story
How to book a place on the course
You can now self-refer onto the course:
- Diabetes / IGR Referral form
- call the team on 0151 604 7271
Everyone who books onto the course can bring a friend or relative along (please inform the admin team when booking).
Referrals can also be made via a GP/healthcare professional
Contact
Email:
Highfield Centre
Address:
Nutrition and Dietetics
Victoria Central Health Centre
Mill Lane
Wallasey
CH44 5UF
Tel: 0151 604 7271
Opening times:
Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm
