Diabetes
Supporting you to live well with Diabetes
The community diabetes team supports people living with diabetes to manage their condition confidently and effectively.
We work with you to improve your health outcomes, enhance your quality of life, and help you build the skills needed for long-term self-management.
We provide specialist advice, education, and support for people with diabetes, their carers and their families.
Our Approach: Empowerment and Self-Management
People living with diabetes are at the centre of their care. Our role is to support you in developing the knowledge, confidence, and skills to manage your condition independently.
We focus on:
- Education and understanding of diabetes
- Supporting behaviour change
- Promoting self-care
- Supporting realistic and achievable goal setting
What to Expect from the Diabetes Team
When you are referred to our service:
- If you meet the criteria (outlined below) you will be offered an initial appointment with a member of the diabetes specialist team. Our team consists of Diabetes Specialist Nurses, Dietitians, Support Workers, Educators and Associate Nurses
- We will assess your needs and agree on a personalised care plan
- Follow-up appointments will be arranged if needed, but our aim is to support you working towards your goals and then discharge you back to your GP with a clear management plan
We work closely with GPs and other healthcare professionals to ensure continuity of care.
Type 1 Diabetes Support
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Structured Education
If you are living with Type 1 diabetes and inject insulin using multiple daily injections (MDI) we offer a structured education course. We teach you to count the carbohydrate content of food & drink and adjust their insulin doses accordingly. This provides the freedom to make unrestricted food choices, similar to the general population.Most adults living with Type 1 diabetes in Medway are eligible to attend Medway Intensive Type 1 Education (MINT1E) where they can learn these skills. A referral can be made directly to the diabetes team via your GP.Alternatively, the online education programme BERT1E can be completed at your own pace. They cover key topics such as insulin adjustment, carbohydrate counting, and managing day-to-day challenges. This platform is also a great resource to refresh your current knowledge, or to educate a relative, friend or carer supporting someone with type 1 diabetes. -
Digital Support Tools
We recommend a range of trusted digital resources:
DigiBete – A comprehensive platform offering videos, guides, and practical advice for people living with Type 1 diabetes.
My mhealth – myDiabetes – A digital app designed to support self-management, including tracking and personalised health information.
Diabetes UK Learning Zone – A range of interactive courses, tools and activities on topics from food swaps and physical activity to emotional health.
DTN- UK (ABCD) – Educational videos focussed on diabetes technology
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Exercise and Type 1 Diabetes
Physical activity is important for overall health but can impact blood glucose levels. We support safe and effective exercise with Type 1 diabetes. We can help you understand how exercise affects blood glucose and how to adjust insulin and carbohydrate intake safely to build confidence in staying active.Recommended resources:- Exercise for type 1 diabetes (EXTOD) – Evidence-based guidance on managing exercise.
- Run Sweet -Practical advice on adjusting insulin and nutrition for physical activity
- ABCD – An educational video discussing exercise strategies
Type 2 Diabetes Support
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Structured Education
If you have Type 2 diabetes, we will support you to improve your health through lifestyle changes, structured education, and personalised support. Developing a good understanding of your diabetes can help you make informed choices and improve your long-term health. Structured education is a key part of managing Type 2 diabetes and is recommended for everyone following diagnosis. Taking part in structured education has been shown to improve confidence, self-management skills, and overall health outcomes.
Our locally delivered structured education programme EMPOWER is designed to help you understand Type 2 diabetes, including lifestyle changes and reducing the risk of complications. Sessions provide practical advice and an opportunity to ask questions in a supportive environment. Please see referral criteria to book onto this course.
Other resources:
- My mhealth – myDiabetes – A digital app designed to support self-management, including tracking and personalised health information.
- NHS Healthy Living Programme – A free online programme for individuals newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. It includes interactive tools, videos and information covering healthy eating, physical activity, and emotional wellbeing.
- Diabetes UK Learning Zone – A range of interactive courses, tools and activities on topics from food swaps and physical activity to emotional health.
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Nutrition and Lifestyle
Healthy lifestyle changes are one of the most effective ways to improve Type 2 diabetes management. For some people, lifestyle changes can significantly improve blood glucose levels and may even lead to remission of Type 2 diabetes.Our team supports you to make realistic, sustainable changes that fit into everyday life. We understand that managing diabetes can feel overwhelming, so we focus on achievable goals and personalised support rather than restrictive diets or short-term solutions.Regular physical exercise can help improve blood glucose levels, support weight management, reduce cardiovascular risk, and improve mood and energy levels. You do not need to join a gym or complete intense exercise to see benefits. Small increases in daily movement can make a significant difference.There is no single diet recommended for everyone with Type 2 diabetes. Instead, we encourage balanced and sustainable eating habits that support blood glucose management, weight management, and overall wellbeing.General principles include:- Balanced meals
- Reducing sugary foods and drinks
- Choosing higher fibre carbohydrates such as wholegrains, vegetables, beans, and pulses
- Including lean protein and healthier fats
- Reducing processed foods where possible
- Understanding portion sizes and mindful eating
Some people may benefit from different dietary approaches depending on their preferences and health goals, including:- Mediterranean-style eating patterns
- Moderate or lower carbohydrate approaches
- Calorie reduction for weight management
- Structured meal replacement programmes where clinically appropriate
We encourage people to avoid “quick fix” diets and instead focus on long-term lifestyle habits that can be maintained. -
Weight Management
Weight management can improve insulin resistance, blood glucose control, blood pressure, cholesterol, mobility, and overall health.We can support you with:- Goal setting and behaviour change
- Lifestyle advice and education
- Signposting to local and national weight management services
- Access to structured programmes where appropriate
Local Kent and Medway services include:- One You Kent – A free lifestyle and weight management service offering personalised support, healthy eating advice, physical activity guidance, and behaviour change support. Support may be available online or face-to-face.
- NHS Digital Weight Management Programme – A 12-week online programme for people living with obesity and diabetes and/or hypertension. The programme provides nutrition advice, activity support, and behaviour change tools that can be accessed flexibly from home.
- NHS Healthy Living Programme – A free NHS online programme designed specifically for people living with Type 2 diabetes, helping individuals develop confidence in self-management, healthy eating, and lifestyle changes.
Your Role in Managing Diabetes
The diabetes service aims to empower you to take control of your diabetes. This means supporting you to understand your condition, make informed decisions, and feel confident in managing changes in your blood glucose, lifestyle, and treatment.
We offer targeted specialist input when it is most needed. Our aim is to support you and your GP / Practice Nurse to achieve work towards achieving your goals with a personalised management plan. This approach ensures you are supported while also promotes independence and continuity of care within primary care services. We do not provide long-term routine follow-up for all patients.
We encourage you to take an active role in your diabetes management by:
- Engaging with structured education
- Using recommended digital tools and resources to support your learning and day-to-day decision making
- Monitoring your condition and understanding your results
- Making gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes
- Seeking support when needed, via your GP or diabetes team
Diabetes is usually a lifelong condition, and your needs may change over time. Following discharge from our service, you will continue to be supported by your GP and primary care team. If your needs change or your diabetes becomes more complex, you can be referred back to the diabetes specialist team.
Our goal is not just to treat diabetes, but to ensure you feel confident managing it — now and in the future.
Referral criteria
We accept referrals that meet one of the following criteria:
- Type 1 Diabetes requiring specialist input
- HbA1c >69mmol (on maximum tolerated oral therapies)
- Steroid induced hyperglycaemia
- Frequent hypoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia unawareness
- Complex diabetes needs (end of life diabetes management, kidney dialysis, enteral feeding etc.)
- Complex dietary needs (coeliac, pancreatitis, cancer care etc.)
The following forms are for use by healthcare professionals only:
- Online form
- For Type 2 Diabetes Education, patients can self-refer and book onto a course
Resources
Useful leaflets
Published on: 9 January, 2025
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