Introducing X-pert - Diabetes

If you've got a busy job, or you've got a family, or if it's not easy for you to get around, the last thing you might feel like doing in your free time is heading out the door to go on a course. But I'm not talking about any old course. I'm talking about a way to really understand about looking after yourself when you're living with diabetes. Introducing Expert, delivering the knowledge and power to be in control of your diabetes. There are six sessions and they're two and a half hours. Today's session is quite interactive, so it'll get you discussing what do we need to look at labels for. I've learnt so much. A lot more than I knew before. I found out that my portions are too large. I was obviously eating too many carbohydrates as well as the fruit and vegetables. Interested? You'll learn about diabetes, carbs, activity, food labelling, complications, avoiding hypos and preventing diabetes if you haven't got it yet. It might help motivate you to make changes in your lifestyle. It's not like school. It's more interesting, for a start. I thought, I've got to do something about this. I've got to take control and find out as much as I can. People get into habits, don't they? And sometimes it takes a while for you to change those habits. This is the white bread is my problem. We go away from that now. Sharing experiences. Making new friends is part of the process. Oh, they're lovely people. Yeah. Everybody's in the same boat. We're a pretty matey lot. We've had some pretty good laughs along the way, one way or another. It's good. This group is for those with or at risk of developing diabetes. People who have done the course report improvements in body weight. Just a few pounds, but that's a start. Improved diabetes control. I would say so, yes. Yes, that's better. Reduced medication. I'm optimistic. Increased skill to manage diabetes. Oh yes, definitely. Well, I've learned a lot, yes. Improved lifestyle. It's encouraged me to go out every day and have a walk. Lower blood pressure. Yes, that's come down. And improved blood fats. I don't know yet. I'm about to be tested. You might be pleasantly surprised by the benefits of attending a course like this, not least who you'll meet. I was quite surprised when I came here and people are sort of at all different stages. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 19 years ago. I've only been diagnosed since December. I'm at risk of having diabetes. 12 years ago, I'd been on one of these courses, but I thought I'd better renew myself on this because you start off really well, but then you start to relax. And relaxing your diabetes control is not a great strategy for good health. I've had two strokes. It doesn't look like it, but I fall over, get dizzy, I have blood pressure, so you've got to try and control the diabetes so it doesn't affect the other things. Hearing some of the stories of my father and my grandfather who've all got diabetes because they're busy telling me that my uncle's lost their eyesight or lost a leg and I'm thinking, yeah, I don't want to have that. Changing the habits of a lifetime can be a challenge. I was quite stunned with both the calories and the carbohydrate content of certain foods. I mean, I'm quite partial to pork pie at lunchtime. But it will be worth it. It's a bit complicated, you know, taking it all in, it all in, but when you go home and read the book, you know, you can understand it better then. It's coming through that I've got to lose weight and I've got to cut down on some foods. Have a think about what course could work for you. Expert, people living with type 2. Expert prevention, if you're at risk of developing diabetes. Desmond, a one day course for type 2. And there's expert insulin for those controlling their diabetes that way. And finally, there's Daphne, a five-day course for people living with type 1. Anyone can attend, just ask at your surgery or diabetes clinic. What's there to lose? Basically meet new people, interesting afternoon, free tea!