Patients with diabetes in west Norfolk are being invited to attend a special event to learn more about how they can manage their condition and lead as healthy and independent lives as possible.

The diabetes workshop has been organised by the specialist diabetes nurses from Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C). It will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013 (9.30am-12.30pm) at West Norfolk Professional Development Centre, in King’s Lynn.

The workshop will centre around the use of four ‘conversation maps’, which are a visual guide through people’s journey with diabetes. The visual aids are designed to prompt conversations and bring up common questions patients can have, so they can access information and support from NCH&C’s experts.

There will be four of the large, colourful, table-top sized conversation maps in place, each designed to address a different aspect or stage of diabetes. These include:

• Managing my diabetes – providing an overview of diabetes and diabetes self-management
• Diabetes and a healthy lifestyle- focuses on the importance of eating well and keeping active
• Experiencing life with diabetes- how to manage diabetes over a lifetime
• Starting insulin- for people who are considering, or recently started, using insulin injections

People will be encouraged to work in groups of up to 10 attendees alongside specialist NHS staff to discuss the issues, before sharing their discussions with the wider group. A similar event was held last year and was a great success, with around 60 people taking part.

Julie Widdowson, NCH&C’s Diabetes Educator and Practitioner, said: “This event will give people the opportunity to ask questions about different aspects of their diabetes and how they can manage it as part of their lifestyle.

“As well as being an opportunity to hear from NCH&C’s expert diabetes nurses, we’ll also be encouraging attendees to share their experiences and knowledge so they can help benefit fellow patients.”

Booking is essential as spaces are limited. To reserve a place for yourself and a guest, please call 01553 668562 or email [email protected] before the deadline of September 10. The workshop is free to attend.

www.norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk

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