People with diabetes and who live close to Preston city centre are being encouraged to attend special education sessions that have been organised at Preston Town Hall.

The free-to-attend sessions are being held to help people with diabetes successfully live with and self-manage their condition, and ultimately live healthier lives.

Heather Platt, Diabetes Structured Education Referral Coordinator at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, said, “If you have Type 2 diabetes then get help on how to best manage the condition.

"These events, known as DESMOND sessions, have been organised to help people with diabetes to understand their condition better and how to successfully manage it to keep themselves well. Patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes can self-refer to DESMOND.

“The sessions are free and will be held at Preston Town Hall on 1 and 15 October 2018. They are two-part sessions and people are encouraged to attend both sessions. They begin at 10am and finish at 2pm, something that gives more accessibility to people with bus passes. The sessions are also easy walking distance for those in areas around town, such as Deepdale, Frenchwood and Broadgate.”

DESMOND is an acronym for Diabetes Education and Self-Management for On-going and Newly Diagnosed. Attending a DESMOND session will help someone to understand how food, activity and medication affect their diabetes control, what the long-term risks of living with Type 2 diabetes are and how an individual might reduce these risks.

To find out more, contact DESMOND on 01772 777620 or email desmond@lancashirecare.nhs.uk. Alternatively, speak to your GP, practice nurse or health care professional.

For general advice on any form of diabetes, call the Diabetes UK Helpline on 0345 123 2399 or visit www.diabetes.org.uk.