How we support people with diabetes.
There are a number of services that can help you when it comes to looking after yourself if you have diabetes.
Routine care
The majority of people with diabetes are looked after by the practice diabetes team.
We like to see all people with diabetes at least once a year, during their annual health check, and sometimes again 6 months later - usually if your Diabetic control is not so good.
You will receive an invite for both the annual health check and the 6 month review. Both of the appointments will be with a nurse and you will need to have a blood test before each appointment.
There are times when you will need to be seen more often than twice a year, for example after you are first diagnosed or if problems are detected during one of the routine reviews. We arrange these additional reviews as needed and may be a nurse or one of the Doctors.
The practice team
Karen Gornall and Fiona Steele are our diabetes nurses, and Kate Baker and Sarah Atkinson are currently training.
Specialist care
If there is a particular problem identified with your diabetes care that we cannot help you within the practice, then we will refer you to a specialist service.
For the majority of specialist problems we use Leeds Community Healthcare diabetes service, though for some people we also refer to Wharfedale General Hospital or St. James's.
Self help and support groups
There are 8,760 hours in a year and over a year you will only spend 2 to 3 hours receiving support and advice about your diabetes from professionals. The vast majority of care comes from 'self care'.
We suggest that all people who develop diabetes should attend the self-management education programme, which is 6 hours of extra education offered to those with a new diagnosis of diabetes (your nurse will mention it). You can self refer using the leaflet.
There is also a local PEP Diabetes support group as we recognise people live with diabetes for years and so need on-going support and advice.