Around 117,930 people in Kent and Medway are living with diabetes.*
More about the services commissioned to support people living with diabetes can be found below, along with information about how the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is being delivered locally.
* Statistics are from 2022
The NHS is currently facing supply issues with glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), a range of drugs used for managing blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. This includes Dulaglutide, Exenatide, Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Lixisenatide.
Unfortunately, there are widespread national stock shortages which may affect supply of these medications at your pharmacy. This may not be the case for everyone during this time.
If you are a patient taking GLP-1 RA for type 2 diabetes, please read this information leaflet.
NHS Kent and Medway offer the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme, aimed at people with type 2 diabetes. The 12-month weight loss programme begins with a 3-month period where the patient is placed on a low calorie soups and shake diet. This is 800 calories per day across 4 soup or shake servings.
Along with supplementary lifestyle advice, education and behaviour change coaching, the programme shows significant weight loss in the first 3 month period, which provides an opportunity for remission over the remaining 9 months and beyond. More details can be found on the provider website here, with referrals to be made via the GP.
If you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and are over 18 and not pregnant, then you are eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Eligibility can be confirmed via a blood test or using the diabetes 'know your risk' tool.
This programme provides education about exercise, diet and mental health, along with providing other advice which can help reduce the chances of developing diabetes. The sessions are primarily held local venues, offering the patient an interactive education course and the opportunity to help keep diabetes at bay.
myDiabetes is an online platform which provides access to educational support for those with diabetes. The service, is provided by my mhealth.
Following a referral from a GP or clinician, patients are asked to fill in details, such as their blood glucose levels or BMI, to tailor the delivery of the service to their needs.
Upon being referred by a clinician, you can access the myDiabetes platform by visiting the mymhealth website or download the application on an iPhone or Android device.
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a device for people with diabetes that lets you check your glucose (sugar) levels at any time. It lets you see patterns in your levels and check if your blood glucose is too high or low. It can help you control your blood glucose levels, as you'll have more information and can take action quickly. The technology reduces the need for finger-prick testing by giving patients a continuous stream of real-time information on a smartphone about current blood glucose levels.
Those eligible for CGM in Kent and Medway are:
- Adults living with type 1 diabetes in line with NICE criteria NG17 and NG18
- Adults living with type 2 diabetes in line with NICE criteria NG28
- Children and young people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in line with NICE criteria found in NG 18.
This applies to those devices that can be prescribed on prescription (e.g. Freestyle Libre 2 plus, Dexcom One plus). Some devices will only be available from your specialist team (e.g. Dexcom G6, G7). There is more information about this on the NHS website.
The Diabetes Education Referral Hub is for people who have received a diabetes diagnosis (Type 1 or Type 2) and would benefit from structured education programmes.
The hub is not just for people that are newly diagnosed, anyone in Kent and Medway who has been diagnosed with diabetes can use the hub to access to structured education courses to help them with their illness.
Patients being referred to the service must be 18 or over. If a patient is under 18, they fall under paediatric diabetic care, which the hub does not support.
You can ‘self-refer’ yourself to the Diabetes Education Referral Hub by visiting the hub’s website and creating an account.
If a referral is made by a clinician, Spirit Healthcare, who have created and manage the hub, will contact the patient’s GP to obtain the required diagnosis and medical information.
Upon receiving the information, they will then contact the patient and provide them access to book education diabetes courses.
Once you receive access to the hub, follow the steps below to reserve your place on the course.
- step 1 - Click on the tab called 'book a course'
- step 2 - Insert your postcode and select courses
- step 3 - Provide your details
- step 4 - Reserve your place.
The DigiBete app and website offers education, training and support resources for children and young people with type 1 diabetes.
Adults living with type 1 diabetes can access videos and online courses to help manage their condition through the MyType1Diabetes platform.
Healthy Living is a free online programme clinically proven to help people with type 2 diabetes live well. It provides information and support to help participants adopt healthy lifestyle choices.
My Quit Route is an application which provides expert advice and scientifically proven tools to help quit smoking.