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Diabetes Week – 13-19 June 2022

Diabetes Week – 13-19 June 2022

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Diabetes Week 2022 is coming up from 13 to 19 June. It’s a chance to raise awareness of diabetes and highlight the support available to anyone living with the condition. If you would like to find out more about diabetes and the support available in Northumberland, come along to our free online event on Friday 10 June to hear from Colin Renshaw of Diabetes UK.

Colin will provide information about the different types of diabetes and how to manage and live well with the condition. We will also hear about national and local support available from Diabetes UK and there will be a chance to ask questions.

Here at Healthwatch Northumberland, two members of our volunteer team have experience of type 2 diabetes and have kindly shared their thoughts below.

James’ Poem

Our volunteer James wrote a poem about his experience of type 2 diabetes:

Got diabetes
From eating too many sweeties
Didn’t care what I ate
Always cleared my plate

What symptoms did I have?
Lots of trips to the lav
Drank like a fish
Even made a wish

Was first given tablets
But didn’t change my habits
Drinking too much coca colas
Along the way I am rotting my molars

Moved on to the hard stuff
Needle is in
Needle is out
Whoops am going to shout

Sugars is o so high
Sugars is o so low
How is going to go
Or maybe it’s going to snow

Have now changed my diet
I can’t really be quiet
How low can I go
Getting a healthier glow

Colin’s Q&A

Volunteer Colin answered some questions for us about his experience of type 2 diabetes and how this affects his daily life:

When were you first diagnosed with diabetes?

22 years ago.

What symptoms did you have?

I didn’t have any symptoms, it was picked up during a routine eye examination following sight loss (unrelated).

How did it affect your life?

The main thing is that I have to check my blood twice a day.

How have you managed the condition? What healthcare support did you get? Did you get help from any support organisations?

My diabetes was initially treated with Metformin tablets and I had an annual check with a diabetes nurse. After a period of time I needed insulin to manage my sugar levels and I attended a course on how to use insulin at Blyth Hospital. I continue to have yearly check-ups with a diabetes nurse – these were online during pandemic but are back to in person now.

What is the situation now – how is the condition and have you made any lifestyle changes to improve it?

I have to have meals at regular times and carry something with me to eat. If things get out of balance, I can have a ‘hypo’ (experience hypoglycaemia) but I’m good at spotting the signs.

 

Find out more about diabetes at the Diabetes UK website.

If you would like to tell us about your experience of diabetes services or ask a question about local services and support, please get in touch.

Online Event – Diabetes UK

Online Event – Diabetes UK

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Join us in the run up to Diabetes Week 2022 to hear from Colin Renshaw from Diabetes UK on Friday 10 June, 1pm-2pm.

In this free, online public event Colin will provide information about the different types of diabetes and how to manage and live well with the condition. We will also hear about national and local support available from Diabetes UK. There will be a chance to ask questions.

Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event: 

If you would like to tell us about your recent experience of diabetes services please get in touch.

Free online event – Alzheimer’s Society

Free online event – Alzheimer’s Society

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Join us on Friday 8 April for this free, online public event to hear from Helen Mayne who will provide a brief overview of Alzheimer’s Disease and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Dementia is a progressive neurological condition and the UK’s biggest killer. Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity who campaign for change, fund research to find a cure and support people living with dementia.

Helen Mayne, Alzheimer’s Society’s local services manager, will join us to give an overview of what dementia is, how it can affect people and what support Alzheimer’s Society can provide for people in Northumberland who are living with the condition.

This will include an outline of their recent expansion to services and what it means for people who receive a diagnosis.

There will also be a chance to ask questions.

Register now at the link below and we will send you a link to join closer to the event.

Parkinson’s UK free online event

Parkinson’s UK free online event

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At our next free online public event on Friday 11 March 2022, from 1pm, we will hear from Vivienne Rogerson from Parkinson’s UK.

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition. Parkinson’s UK is the national charity, working locally, to provide support for those living with the condition and their family and friends. It is also a campaigning and research organisation.

Area Development Manager, Vivienne Rogerson, will give a brief overview of what Parkinson’s Disease is, what it means for people living with the condition, how Parkinson’s UK supports those with the condition, influences health and social care services and works towards a cure.

The event is suitable for people who live or work in Northumberland and are interested in finding out more about this disease and what support there is locally.

Register now and we will send you a link to join closer to the event:

Arthritis Action online event

Arthritis Action online event

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If you live or work in Northumberland, join us at a free, online public event to hear from Ruth Smith of Arthritis Action.

Ruth will be joining us to talk about arthritis, self-management, and resources for people living with the condition. She will cover topics including keeping active, pain management and diet.

The event is suitable for people who live or work in Northumberland and are living with or working with any form of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis and gout. The presentation may also be useful for those with other conditions causing joint pain such as fibromyalgia.

There will also be a chance to ask questions.

and we will send you a link to join closer to the event.

Online event – mental wellbeing support for young people

Online event – mental wellbeing support for young people

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Are you a parent, carer or someone who is looking for initial support for a child or young person’s mental wellbeing? Perhaps you work with young people and want ideas about what mental health support is available in Northumberland? Come along to our online event on Wednesday 10 March from 10.30am to 11.30am and find out more about Kooth, an online counselling and support service available to all young people aged 11-25 across Northumberland.

Kooth is a safe, confidential and anonymous way for young people to access wellbeing and mental health support through self-help resources and articles, peer support and discussion, and access to fully trained and qualified counsellors until 10pm each night, 365 days per year.

This event is an opportunity to hear more about Kooth from Northumberland’s Kooth Engagement Lead Malcolm Connelly who will give a short presentation and introduction to the service, what it involves, how to access it and what you can expect. There will be a Q&A session following the presentation.

Find out more about Kooth here.

Children’s Mental Health Week took place this year from 1 to 7 February, an opportunity to shine a spotlight on children and young people’s mental health. We supported this campaign and are currently running a survey to get feedback from young people about their experiences of mental health services. However, we understand that the work does not stop with the end of this campaign and many young people will continue to need mental health support during these difficult times and beyond.

Preliminary results from our survey show that many young people do not seek formal support for their mental wellbeing and will instead rely on family and friends, but it is important that people are aware that there are local services available that can provide support and that they know how to access them.

If you would like to come along to the event please contact Helen Brown at: helenb@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk, or call 03332 408468 to register.

We would also like to hear from young people who are using or have used children’s mental health services in Northumberland so we can understand what is working well and what could be improved. You can share your views here.

Parents, carers and relatives of young people who have used services can also share feedback on our website.

 

 

Events

Bridge Northumberland Earth Day Cook-Along

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Join Bridge Northumberland for a cook-along to celebrate Earth Day. The event will take place at 11.30am on Thursday 22 April with Georgia Evans from Full Circle Food cooking a vegan spaghetti bolognese.

Visit the Bridge Northumberland YouTube channel to join in on the day.

Online event – mental wellbeing support for young people

Online event – mental wellbeing support for young people

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Are you a parent, carer or someone who is looking for initial support for a child or young person’s mental wellbeing? Perhaps you work with young people and want ideas about what mental health support is available in Northumberland? Come along to our online event on Wednesday 10 March from 10.30am to 11.30am and find out more about Kooth, an online counselling and support service available to all young people aged 11-25 across Northumberland.

Kooth is a safe, confidential and anonymous way for young people to access wellbeing and mental health support through self-help resources and articles, peer support and discussion, and access to fully trained and qualified counsellors until 10pm each night, 365 days per year.

This event is an opportunity to hear more about Kooth from Northumberland’s Kooth Engagement Lead Malcolm Connelly who will give a short presentation and introduction to Kooth, what it involves, how to access it and what you can expect. There will be a Q&A session following the presentation.

Find out more about Kooth here.

If you would like to come along to the event please contact Helen Brown at: helenb@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk, or call 03332 408468 to register.

We would also like to hear from young people who are using or have used children’s mental health services in Northumberland so we can understand what is working well and what could be improved. You can share your views here.

Parents, carers and relatives of young people who have used services can also share feedback on our website.