NHS Forth Valley diabetes advice website is a real life saver
and live on Freeview channel 276
On Sunday it will be 100 years since insulin was first used to save the life of a child with type 1 diabetes and the new website is carrying on that life-saving mission.
The idea for the website began when COVID-19 and physical distancing led to the cancellation of traditional face-to-face group education and clinical appointments.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNHS Forth Valley Consultant endocrinologist Doctor Chris Kelly said: “Education and coaching for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is a core role of the secondary
care service. Much of this was delivered in patient groups and workshops and supplemented with one-to-one clinic appointments.
"When lockdown started in April last year, we realised we needed to come up with a solution.”
In Forth Valley alone, around 19,000 people have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and around 1800 have type 1.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe website covers all aspects of education and has even helped people with type 2 diabetes to start using insulin without leaving their home, by way of instructional videos.
There is also detailed information on eye, feet and blood screening, emotional well being, what to do when illness strikes, diet, and arrangements when travelling, and how to contact specialist diabetes nurses for advice.
Carolyn Kiddell, NHS Forth Valley lead diabetes specialist nurse, said: “It’s a great resource to help people recall and on guidance they have been given at appointments.”
Visit the website for more information.
Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.