Summary
Structured education in diabetes has been delivered for more
than thirty years in Dorset in collaboration between three
local NHS Trusts: Dorset Healthcare University Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust, Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust, and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The
programme serves 66 GP surgeries across nine Dorset localities.
It is delivered as part of the patients' treatment pathway, blending with care from their GP, rather than
a stand-alone education programme. After patients are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in primary care,
they are then offered open access to the programme at the venue of their choice. Each of the three
sessions takes two hours and is run by a secondary care diabetes specialist nurse and dietitian.
Challenge
Maintaining good diabetes management is essential to reduce the risk of life-changing complications. Poor
control is associated with complications leading to disability, premature mortality and signifi cant fi nancial costs.
Objectives
To empower people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and their family members/carers, to take active
responsibility for the day to day control of the condition. To achieve desirable diabetes control (measured as HbA1c)
and adjust medications if appropriate. To alert patients about their blood cholesterol levels in relation to targets.
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