Addenbrooke’s Hospital is to host its annual patient conference for diabetic patients for the fifth time. The conference, entitled ‘Diabetic and lovin’ it…’, takes place on Saturday 18 November at the Clinical School on the Addenbrooke’s campus.

This year the guest speaker is triathlete Gary Blakie who has type 1 diabetes. Gary achieved the feat of running in five marathons in five weeks in five countries under five hours in April this year, raising £5,000 for Diabetes UK.

Jackie Reynolds, Diabetes Specialist Nurse, said: “We are also drawing on the wealth of local talent with talks about the effects of exercise on diabetes, what do blood results mean, prevention and treatment of obesity, what sort of food can control your glucose better and treatments for sexual dysfunction”.

“There will also be stands from the pharmaceutical industry with new blood glucose monitors and lots of information to take away at the end of the day.”

Notes to editors

  • Patients and the public can find out more about the conference by telephoning Michaela Wilson on 01223 596103.

  • There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. In type 1, the body destroys the cells that make insulin, the hormone that enables glucose to move from the bloodstream into the body’s cells, where it is used for energy. Type 2 diabetes occurs when there is a shortage of insulin or the body fails to respond to it normally, and can also be linked to lifestyle issues, such as being overweight or inactive and having a poor diet.

  • At Addenbrooke’s, diabetes care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team made up of doctors, diabetes nurse specialists, podiatrists (foot specialists) and dietitians, who are supported by a service manager and administrative and reception staff.

  • The hospital runs education programmes to help patients manage their condition, for example the DAFNE (Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating) programme for patients with type 1 diabetes. The course teaches them to work out how much insulin they require for what they have chosen to eat. It also gives advice and guidance on managing other aspects of their daily life such as exercise, eating out and weight control.

  • Research into diabetes is another important part of the service. Researchers working on the Addenbrooke’s campus have made some important discoveries, particularly in inherited disorders or insulin resistance.

 

Last updated: 15 November 2006