Diabetes programmes and education

Diabetes education gives you the skills and confidence you need to take control of your diabetes and helps to prevent complications. There is a range of education available to Thames Valley ICB residents.

All Thames Valley ICB residents with type 2 diabetes have access to a choice of face to face or online education. Your GP or diabetes nurse will be able to signpost you to your local group.

If you prefer to learn about diabetes at your own pace you can use the NHS Healthy Living - afree online NHS service which provides knowledge and information that will support you to manage your condition. To register for the programme visit www.healthyliving.nhs.uk.

East Berkshire residents

• If you live in East Berkshire and have Type 1 diabetes managed with multiple daily insulin injections, you may be eligible to attend the Carb Aware (carbohydrate counting education) and Insulin & CGM Optimisation group education programmes. The programmes include two group sessions followed by a one‑to‑one review and is delivered by a Diabetes Specialist Dietitian and a Diabetes Specialist Nurse.

• If you live in East Berkshire and have been newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, you will be eligible for DEAL diabetes group education, which will help you learn more about your condition and provide you with an opportunity to meet other people who are newly diagnosed. The course is one session, lasting 3.5 hours. The course is delivered in either English or Punjabi and is run in different locations across East Berkshire.

• If you live in East Berkshire and have had Type 2 diabetes for more than one year, you will be eligible for DEAL PLUS diabetes group education, which will help you learn more about your condition and how to manage it. The course is one session, lasting 3.5 hours. The course is delivered in either English or Punjabi and is run in different locations across East Berkshire.

West Berkshire residents

• Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Diabetes specialist service (works across East and West Berkshire) 

Buckinghamshire residents

• Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust - Diabetes
  

Oxfordshire residents

•      Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust - Community type 2 diabetes service

The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, also known as the Healthier You programme, identifies people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and refers them onto a nine-month, evidence-based lifestyle change programme.

The Healthier You programme is available both as a face-to-face group service and as a digital service. When referred into the programme, people are free to choose between the two.

People on the face-to-face group service receive personalised support to manage their weight, eat more healthily and be more physically active – which together have been proven to reduce a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The digital service offers similar support but through the use of digital tools such as wearable technologies that monitor levels of exercise, apps where users can access health coaches, online peer support groups and the ability to set and monitor goals electronically.

Research shows the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme has reduced new diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in England, saving thousands of people from the potentially serious consequences of the condition. It cuts the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than a third for people completing the programme.

The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme accepts self-referral from people with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in addition to the usual referral route from general practice, and without the need for a glycaemic test result. This includes people with current GDM (ie those who are currently pregnant), who can be signposted to self-refer by maternity services and start the programme post-pregnancy.

The Healthier You programme is delivered across England by a range of providers. Find contact details for the provider of the programme in your area.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme. People can access it via a smartphone or computer with internet access.

To sign up to the programme, you will need to speak to your local GP or a local Pharmacist who can refer you.

Early Onset Diabetes Support, tailored remoted education for 18-39 year olds. Referral by HCP or self referral & requires a type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosis .

This 12-week programme will help you to better manage your type 2 diabetes, improve your blood glucose levels, lose weight if you need to and build new habits to lead a healthier, happier lifestyle. The programme is free of charge and accessible via smartphone app, or over the telephone.

The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is a free 12-month programme to support people living with Type 2 diabetes to achieve weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. This will enable them to better control their blood sugar levels – reducing the need for diabetes-related medication and potentially achieving remission of their type 2 diabetes.      

All participants will receive one-to-one support, and they can choose their preferred delivery model, either digital one-to-one or in-person one-to-one support.

Participants will also have access to the NHS NHS-approved Oviva app which will enable them to track their food and activity, blood glucose and blood pressure, communicate with their coach through secure app messaging, log mood and set and monitor goals. Throughout the programme, the participant will have access to the Oviva Learn portal to facilitate self-led learning. Oviva Learn is accessible via the Oviva app or you can log into your account on your desktop computer or laptop.

Participants will have lifelong access to Oviva’s digital tools, to encourage sustaining behaviour change long term. We understand that people might find a structured programme beneficial to help them maintain or reset their journey. To facilitate this participants are able to rejoin the programme 12 months following discharge.

You can only be referred to the programme by your GP and will need to meet a range of criteria to qualify.