For our October meeting we had Selina Jetha from the Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinical Programme Board (D&E CPG), for Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (GCCG). Also attending was Gail Pasquall, a Diabetes Specialist Nurse from the Specialist Diabetes Service, part of Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust.

Selina explained a little about what the D&E CPG do, this includes liaising with patients and patient groups, such as our Group, to get the patients views and opinions, also other health organisations such as Gloucestershire Healthwatch. The aim being to improve services for those with diabetes, one example being they are currently working with other Gloucestershire NHS trusts and organisations to create a Multi Disciplinary Foot Care Teams to be based in Gloucester & Cheltenham Hospitals, to simplify podiatry care for those with diabetes.

Gail then gave a talk on the diabetes education courses, for those with Type 2 diabetes or carers for those with the condition, available in the county that are run by the Specialist Diabetes Service. These are “Diabetes and You”, “Diabetes, Food & You” and “Diabetes, Insulin and You”.

Anyone with type 2 can attend, whether just diagnosed or requiring a reminder of what is best practice. All the courses last about 3 hours and are run by qualified diabetes nurses or dieticians. The courses are very informal with normally no more than 8 people on each course and you can book the courses yourself. To book a course either ask Mike Broome for an application form or email community.diabetesteam@glos-care.nhs.uk