The DESMOND Programme

DESMOND provides six hours of planned group education over two half days, which are no more than two weeks apart.

Groups are made up of between six to ten people. Topics covered include:

• the patients' story;
• main ways to manage diabetes;
• the risks and complications of diabetes;
• food choices; and
• action planning.

The aim of DESMOND is to support individuals to achieve their own goals for managing their diabetes. It is not about motivating people to do what health care professionals think they should do. We recognise that the person with diabetes is the expert in their own condition.

There are two DESMOND education module currently available: Newly Diagnosed for people with Type 2 Diabetes who have been diagnosed for lees than twelve months and Foundation for people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes for more than twelve months.

The GP or practice nurse can refer people onto the programme or there is now a self referral form available. Contact 01977 665858 for more details.