Help Evaluate New Diabetes Education Tool, UK

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 24 Jan 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Diabetes UK is working with Healthy Interactions Inc. (Healthyi) to bring diabetes conversation maps to the UK.

The three foot by five foot maps roll out flat and feature images and statistics to provide a fun, engaging diabetes education experience.

Designed for use in groups of three to ten patients, the maps encourage meaningful discussion about diabetes rather than a one-way lecture.

Diabetes self management

Facilitators guide groups through the learning process, which encourages participants to explore diabetes-related health facts and 'take ownership' of what they learn through peer-to-peer discussions.

The aim is to get people with diabetes to understand how they can change their behaviour to improve their diabetes self management.

We are piloting four diabetes conversation maps in the UK, and we need 40 people with Type 2 diabetes to give us their views on how they work.

Pilot maps

The maps being piloted are:

- Overview Map, ideal for those who are newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes
- Lifestyle Map, covering food and physical activity
- Ongoing Management, ideal for those who have had diabetes for a while
- Starting Insulin Map, for those who are considering or have already started insulin injections

Piloting will be taking place at the Diabetes UK central office in Camden, London, on 4 and 5 February 2008. The sessions are provisionally booked for the following times:

4 February

9:30am - 12 noon: Lifestyle Map, Ongoing Management Map.
1:30 - 4pm: Overview Map for Newly Diagnosed, Starting Insulin Map.

5 February

9:30am - 12 noon: Overview Map for Newly Diagnosed, Starting Insulin Map.
1:30 - 4pm: Lifestyle Map and Ongoing Management Map.

Take part

If this sounds like a project you would like to take part in, and you feel that you could spare some time on the above dates, then please send an email to: jemma.edwards@diabetes.org.uk, or call Jemma on 020 7424 1109, to register your interest as soon as possible.

Please let us know if there is a particular map that is of interest to you and we will allocate places on a first come, first served basis.

All travel costs will be reimbursed.