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Calling all parents of children with diabetes

We are launching a parents' group, in which experiences can be shared and concerns discussed in a mutually helpful and supportive environment. It will be open to all parents of children with diabetes in Richmond, Twickenham and surrounding areas.

Please see our new Parents page for more information.

Meetings in 2010 

February 23 - AGM

Following our AGM at 7:30 PM, we have a talk by Dr Jen Nash on The Psychological Impact of Diabetes.

Our regular meetings start at 7:30PM and are held at St Mary's Church Hall, Church Street, Twickenham TW1 3NJ Google map.

Dates for your diary

23 March - Parents group, Susie Reilly head of Care Events at Diabetes UK

16 March - 7.00 at York House.
Richmond Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee to receive report from PCT on current developments in diabetes care 

6 April - Angela Usher  - Expert Patients Programme

8 May - Saturday, Richmond May Fair

11 May - Dr Alexandra Blakemore: The Genetic Component of Type 2 Diabetes

15 & 16 May - Sat & Sun collection at Sainsbury’s in Uxbridge Road

8 June - speaker/topic TBA

13 June - TBC - Saturday Hampton Fair

6 July - Dinah Clafelt, DSN, DESMOND Foundation Course

10 July - Saturday, St Margaret’s Fair

7 September - speaker/topic TBA

Information Desk at Teddington Memorial Hospital

We're manning an Information Desk at Teddington Memorial Hospital on Thursday afternoons, if anyone wants to pick up leaflets or just say hello.

Health Service developments

NHS Richmond, the new name for Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust, is now providing a personal Handheld Record to all patients with diabetes, allowing them to keep track of their own medical history, including blood test and other clinical results, current medication and contact details of their diabetes team. It is part of an information and resource pack about diabetes that is designed to help patients to understand and to manage their condition better. You should receive your own pack at your next diabetes check up at your clinic or GP's surgery.

NHS Richmond is launching health checks at pharmacies in several localities to indentify the many people with diabetes not yet diagnosed. It is intended to extend these checks across the borough.   It is also planning to offer DESMOND courses to some people who have had Type 2 for some time, as well as to the newly diagnosed.

Changes to HbA1c Measurement

You may have heard that from June 2009 changes have been made to the way that HbA1c readings are given. Diabetes UK have a page to explain these changes, and a calculator to let you see what the new readings will look like. Follow this link: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Professionals/Information_resources/Changes-to-Hb A1c-values/

Our regular meetings start at 7:30PM and are held at St Mary's Church Hall, Church Street, Twickenham TW1 3NJ Google map.

Library

We have a lending library of booklets and DVDs on a range of diabetes-related subjects, including recipe books, lifestyle guidance, booklets and other products. These are on display at all our meetings.

Items currently available include:

DVDs

Books

There is no charge to borrow any item, though donations are appreciated. You may also buy any item if you want to keep it. 

For further information please contact Trisha Shirt by email library@DUKRT.org.uk or call 020 8941 5162.

The loan period will usually be from one open meeting to the next but you can make alternative arrangements by contacting Trisha.

Suggestions or questions? Please get in touch through our Contact Us page.