Preventing diabetes programme

[Duffer2020]

I have recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes but have been struggling to get any sort of help or guidance from my GP or any other source (other than this website).
I was diagnosed back in October 2019 as Pre-Diabetic but there was no follow up and no emphasis on the importance of life style changes that I didn't realise the importance so did nothing.
I obtained access to our medical records and realised that my husband had had a Pre-diabetic reading back in July 2019 so I suggested he make an appointment to have another blood test to check what his reading was no and thankfully it came back as ok.
Today he received a letter through the post offering him a 'preventing diabetes' course which involves;
A one to one assessment over the phone
Six fortnightly group sessions
Seven month group sessions
A final one-to-one progress review
All the things that I had been looking for......
I spoke to them to see if I could get on the same course but was told 'no' because my reading are too high.
This is exactly the kind of course I need to be on as, so far, I have had an 8 minute appointment with a diabetic nurse (that I had had to arrange) who did nothing other than take my blood pressure and tell me to make an appointment for 3 months time!
I have taken it upon myself to book onto a DERIK course as I know I need help but I am really struggling to find any support.
I realise that this course is aimed at pre-diabetics but surely the advice and guidance and support given through the course would be just as pertinent to the likes of me that are now diabetic!
It seems nonsense that I can't get any meaningful help other than by going out and finding it myself!
My husband is happy to go through the data protection bits and then hand over to me to speak on his behalf and to pass all the information back to him so I am hoping that I can learn from what they have to offer for myself and then pass it all onto my husband - any way that it works is fine for me!
Nonsense that I can't access similar help though and galling that nothing was done about mine when I was at the prediabetic stage!

 

[EllsBells]

My GP signed me up to an X-Pert course online at the start of this year, which came with a handy course book, which I still refer to. . The link is www.xperthealth.org.uk and does all the things you need it to as a T2.

 

[Duffer2020]

My GP signed me up to an X-Pert course online at the start of this year, which came with a handy course book, which I still refer to. . The link is www.xperthealth.org.uk and does all the things you need it to as a T2.

Hi EllsBells, I have just had a quick look - I think I stumbled across this previously and my GP wasn't signed up to it but from the link it looks like I can sign up myself (at a cost, of course!) . Did you find the course was beneficial? I have signed up to a DERIK course next week but that is a group course and there is no 'one-to-one' assessments or review and I am really not a fan of group courses.

 

[EllsBells]

Hi EllsBells, I have just had a quick look - I think I stumbled across this previously and my GP wasn't signed up to it but from the link it looks like I can sign up myself (at a cost, of course!) . Did you find the course was beneficial? I have signed up to a DREIK course next week but that is a group course and there is no 'one-to-one' assessments or review and I am really not a fan of group courses.

The X-pert is a group course but plenty of opportunities to ask questions and my group consisted of only about 5 people. I found it pretty open minded about possible dietary routes and straightforward without being patronising. The benefit of being in a group is that others may well pose questions that you don't think of asking and that can stimulate discussion. In my group, there were a few on a caribbean diet with questions about what to eat - think lots of rice and plantain, honey in tea etc - I didn't even know that was a thing!

Afraid I don't know about DEREK but it sounds similar - I did think it was aimed at those on insulin, but I could be wrong.

 

[Duffer2020]

Yeah! After going round the houses a few times I am now booked onto an X-Pert group course starting June. That wasn't an option initially but it looks to be that they have put some more courses on which I have managed to get on. Thanks @EllsBells

 

[Drummer]

I'm afraid that your experience isn't unusual.
I did have three 'education' sessions - totally useless. Bad advice on diet, poor information in general.
No follow up on problems with medication other than a phone call to persuade me to take statins again late last year. I have not seen a doctor since diagnosis in 2016

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you‘ve had such a frustrating time, and feel you were rather left out on your own to fend for yourself.

Sadly it does seem to be a bit of a perennial problem in some areas. While others take a much more proactive approach to supporting and advising people presenting with the same clinical factors.

Hope your Derik course is beneficial, and that your husband’s sessions help you both.

Don’t forget you can also sign up to the ‘learning zone’ which has all sorts of information and resources to work through. Look for the orange tab at the top of the page (or the highlighted link under the menu bars if viewing on a smartphone)

 

[Leadinglights]

I was referred onto the MyDESMOND program which is both for pre diabetic and newly diagnosed Type2, I enquired about self referral and this was the reply:
How people access the MyDesmond programme will depend on a number of factors; firstly whether MyDesmond has been commissioned where they live- MyDesmond is available under licence and some commissioners will choose to offer different products, MyDesmond is one of a number of diabetes online programmes. Secondly, if it has been commissioned it will depend on how the programme has been commissioned in their area. In some parts of the country access is via a GP or health professional referral. In other areas self referral is an option. Each locality makes their own arrangements for the referral process and this is not decided by MyDesmond. Individuals can find out if DESMOND/MyDesmond is available in their area and how to access the service by checking our map for details of their nearest provider at desmond.nhs.uk/find-your-nerest-centre.
This maybe something you could persue.