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You and your health

Emotional and Mental Health Support

You might have only just been diagnosed, or you may have lived with diabetes for quite some time now, anyone might find that they need support for all the different emotions they may be feeling. These emotions may vary from stress, feeling low or depressed, or feeling burnt out. Everyone around you can feel like this too from time to time. No matter what you are feeling, you are not alone.

DIABETES UK have reported that: 

  • 7 out of 10 people have felt overwhelmed by the demands of living with diabetes.
  • Three quarters of people with diabetes cannot get the emotional and mental health support they need.


But the good news is that research shows that talking therapy with a trained professional can improve your mood, reduce worries, and help you manage health problems better. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board have a Clinical Psychologist working in adult diabetes, who can help you to address emotional reactions such as disbelief, guilt and anxiety and help you learn how to accept your condition and live your life in line with what is important to you.

There are also lots of resources out there to help you when you are feeling overwhelmed. If you feel like you are struggling, reach out to your General Practitioner (GP) or Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN). We understand that this can be a really difficult thing to do, but your medical team are always there to support and help you.

Please see below link for some websites/apps designed to help individuals with their mental health: 

 

Self-management education for people with type 1 and type 2

For most people living with diabetes, they only spend around three hours a year with their doctor, nurse, or consultant. For the rest of the year, they must manage their diabetes themselves. Managing your diabetes everyday can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have the knowledge and skills to manage your diabetes, so you can live well and avoid complications. 

If you feel like you need some more help and support with your diabetes, do not hesitate to reach out to the Adult Diabetes Team. You could also have a look at DIABETES UK, as they have a range of resources to help you manage your diabetes, as well as stories from other people living with diabetes. Remember, you are not alone.

The Adult Diabetes Team also have a range of Diabetes education courses that are delivered locally either in one of our diabetes centres, education centres, local community centres or facilities across the whole of the county.

Useful links

Type 1 diabetes education is usually delivered in one of our diabetes centres but with Covid-19 cross infection guidelines, we are also sometimes using technology to deliver virtually. The course is called DAFNE which stands for Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating, this is a course that is jointly delivered by dietitian and Diabetes Specialist Nurse along with input from our consultants. It is designed to help people with Type 1 diabetes adjust the dose of insulin to match the amount of carbohydrate they are eating during the day.

This course is arranged by the team and will take place over several days or weeks and is essential preparation for patients who feel they wish to use a pump to administer insulin or people who are using multiple injections of insulin every day to control glucose levels.  

Flash Glucose monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring systems education and training sessions are also organised and provided by the team. This is to enable patients who wish to use this technology to assist them in managing their diabetes blood glucose control and is often delivered with the manufacturers of the device.

Type 2 Diabetes education is also delivered by a team of Primary care Diabetes Specialist Nurses and dietitians across many venues within the county also we are utilising technology in delivering virtual education sessions because of cross infection of Covid-19. 

  • DAS is a 2-hour introduction session providing first-line information for people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. It includes an overview of what diabetes is, the role of carbohydrates, blood glucose and advice on diet and weight management. The group education course is run virtually via MS Teams or face to face within various ABUHB sites.
     
  • X-PERT is a 6-week education course that your General Practitioner or Practice nurse can refer you to, it is designed for people with type 2 diabetes its purpose is to address, educate and inform people about the importance of diet, weight management, exercise, problem solving, promoting wellbeing and sign posting into other services to support you in managing type 2 diabetes.
    How to get on a course
     
  • Education Programme for Patients (EPP) also provide free of charge a Diabetes self-management programme that is delivered by peers who also have long term health conditions, the tutors have all undertaken group education facilitation training with lots of supervision and support to deliver education to their peers.
     
  • Pocket Medic is a Diabetes Implementation Group funded series of short videos that are informative and superbly produced on over 30 diabetes topics type 1 & 2 plus gestational diabetes to mention a small sample to help people with diabetes have access to information and support. 
     
  • MyDESMOND online is an app that helps people to learn about diabetes and manage their health.
     
  • The learning zone on Diabetes UK website is another very useful learning course that is free of charge and easily accessible and tailored to the person.  
     

Who will I meet when attending a diabetes clinic?

  • Reception staff are usually the first members of our team you will meet, these staff will greet you and ask you to confirm your name address, GP, and other details to ensure that our patient information systems are updated and correct. They will book that you have arrived in the clinic and will direct you to where you can take a seat, the reception staff notify the diabetes team to your arrival.
     
  • Health Care Support Worker is usually the next team member you meet, and they will call you through to an area where physical measurements e.g. blood pressure, weight, height and blood test performed or other test can be taken and your records updated. (Sometimes there is a wait for this to take place allowing your blood pressure to settle after walking upstairs or from the car park/bus stop).
     
  • The consultation: if you have any specific needs such as an interpreter or an advocate please can you make us aware of this when you confirm your appointment with the booking centre to have this support available already in the clinic? This will assist us to ensure that your experience is positive and of value to you.
     
  • The purpose of your appointment will generally be the next person you meet so it may be the Consultant, Diabetes Specialist Nurse and Dietitian, Podiatrist or Psychologist or one of the other multidisciplinary team members. When you are called through to the consultation room and introduction will take place, so you know who it is that you are seeing.
     
  • When the consultation is over there may be a request for you to see another member of the Multidisciplinary team or it may be that your appointment is at an end before you leave, please see the reception staff again to book out of the clinic and to ensure that any follow up arrangements are logged and put into place for any future appointments. The reception staff will advise you of these arrangements.
     
  • If you have any concerns or questions you are encouraged to ask when you are with the team.  There is often a request from the team that you bring with you a blood glucose monitoring record or download of an insulin pump and flash monitor ahead of the clinic to ensure that your visit is worthwhile, and a treatment plan can be agreed.   


For more information about looking after yourself and your diabetes, you could visit some of Diabetes UK’s handy webpages.