Overview
Bromley Healthcare’s diabetes team offers clinical advice, education and support for you, your partner, your family and carers.
Patients who have just found out they have Type 2 diabetes are invited to attend our DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) sessions, where they can learn more about their condition, share experiences with others and find out about how to manage diabetes.
We also provide a structured education programme for people with Type 1 diabetes called DAFNE (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating).
The experienced team includes specialist nurses, dietitians and consultants who are on hand to monitor your condition and offer advice when it’s needed. We also work closely with the podiatry service.
The current average waiting time for the Diabetes service is 3.8 weeks.
Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
Using this service
To use this service you’ll need a referral from your doctor (GP) or another health care professional such as your district nurse. If you think you would benefit from this service, please speak to one of these people first.
If you have Type 1 diabetes and have used the service before then we are happy for you to approach us yourself.
If your diabetes is less well controlled than it could be and you are referred to Bromley Healthcare for us to work with you to improve this we will invite you to come to one of our clinics to see a Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Dietitian or Consultant Diabetologist (the choice of clinician depends on your particular requirements).
As soon as your diabetes control improves, providing you do not have any ongoing complications requiring specialist input (such as kidney failure) your care will move back to your GP/Practice Nurse who has been trained to be able to provide your ongoing care closer to where you live. You can be assured of the very high quality of this training and care delivery, which takes place in partnership with us.
Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
Who this service is for
The service supports people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, who have been referred for specialist support. The service supports adults and young people from the age of 19 years upwards. Under 19 years care is provided by the paediatric service.
Newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients should discuss their education needs with their GP who can then refer them to an appropriate course.
Diabetic Type 2 patients who wish to attend supplementary or refresher training can self-refer via Diabetes Book and Learn at diabetesbooking.co.uk. A variety of courses are available across South London.
Type 1 patients should discuss their education needs with their Diabetes Consultant, Specialist Nurse or GP who can then refer them to an appropriate course.
Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
Appointments
Your first appointment
If you have been referred to us for a one-to-one appointment, you may see a specialist nurse, consultant or dietitian. During your appointment we will talk with you about your diabetes, find out more about your condition, lifestyle and family history and offer you some guidance and advice.We may also take some basic information about you such as weight and height.
You may be asked to have your blood and urine tested before your appointment. This will be detailed when you receive your first appointment letter.You will then discuss the results with the person you see.
If you have been referred to the service to join in one of our DESMOND sessions you will spend the whole day with us. At the session you will learn more about diabetes and ways to help you manage this.
If you are invited to a DAFNE education session you will be invited to spend five days learning how to manage your diabetes.
Changing or cancelling an appointment
If you need to cancel an appointment please call us at the earliest opportunity on 0300 330 5777, so we can offer the time slot to another patient. Please bear in mind that our appointments are booked quite a long way in advance, so we may not be able to offer you an immediate appointment.
Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
Walking Away from Diabetes
If you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (i.e. have impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetes), we offer a one-off, self-management course (lasting 3.5 hours) which offers the participants the opportunity to explore their personal risk and to identify the changes they need to remain healthy.
Walking Away from Diabetes is an evidence-based programme which focuses on increasing physical activity and reducing saturated fat in the diet. Each programme is delivered by two healthcare professionals who have been trained as Walking Away from Diabetes educators. The session covers:
Understanding more about diabetes and blood glucose
Understanding what factors contribute to being at risk
How being at risk can affect long term health
Reducing risk, physical activity and healthy eating
Thoughts and feelings of the participants
Planning for the future
The course is group-based and runs with up to a maximum of 14 people who can be accompanied by a partner, family member or friend. Our courses are run on weekdays at a variety of locations across the borough.
To access this service you will need a referral from your GP or another healthcare professional.
Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
More information
The following information is provided to support diabetes patients during the coronavirus pandemic:
Coronavirus Information for people with diabetes [diabetes.org.uk]
This provides information for patients with diabetes and how the coronavirus may affect you.
Hypo advice leaflet (not appropriate for DAFNE patients or PUMP users) [pdf]
This leaflet provides information on what to do if you experience a hypo.
Type 2 diabetes sick day rules [pdf]
This leaflet provides information on what to do if as a type 2 patient you become unwell.
Type 1 diabetes sick day rules (not DAFNE/pump) [pdf]
This leaflet provides information on what to do if as a type 1 patient you become unwell. These do not apply to DAFNE patients or those patients using pumps.
DAFNE sick day rules [pdf]
This information is core DAFNE information from your course and provides information about how to manage your condition when you feel unwell.
Diabetes is a long-term condition that affects the body’s ability to process glucose (sugar). It can have serious health consequences. But with careful management, people with diabetes can lead full, healthy and active lives. You can find out more about diabetes on the nhs.uk website:
Living with diabetes [nhs.uk]
Diabetes and children [nhs.uk]
Reducing risk [nhs.uk]
Diabetes education [nhs.uk]
Travelling with diabetes [nhs.uk]
Foot care and diabetes [nhs.uk]
Diabetes and pregnancy [nhs.uk]
Type 1 diabetes [nhs.uk]
Type 2 diabetes [nhs.uk]
The following leaflets offer tips to help you keep well:
10 top tips to living well [pdf]
Low carbohydrate snack ideas [pdf]
Recipe and menu ideas for healthy eating [pdf]
Useful information and websites:
Diabetes UK [diabetes.org.uk]
Diabetes UK is the national charity for people living with diabetes. Their website is full of useful information, resources and support.
BBC Health: diabetes [bbc.co.uk]
The BBC’s health website has lots of helpful information about living with diabetes.
DESMOND [desmond-project.org.uk]
Information about our education programme for people who have just been diagnosed with type two diabetes.
Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.
For professionals
Patients can be referred via the Single Point of Entry form on EMIS.
Newly diagnosed patients with Type 2 should also be referred to diabetes education via Diabetes Book and Learn at diabetesbooking.co.uk
Service Lead: Michelle Barratt
Calls may be recorded for training and quality purposes. To find out more, visit Personal information – Bromley Healthcare.