People with type 2 diabetes in Lincolnshire given access to free online education programme

For the first time people across the county with type 2 diabetes can benefit from the digital version of DESMOND – a gold standard type 2 diabetes structured education programme developed by the Leicester Diabetes Centre.

The evidence-based course, proven to lower HbA1c, a measurement of blood glucose levels over a two to three-month period, is only normally available to those whose local area has commissioned DESMOND.

The programme is evidence-based and has been developed on the back of years of research by the Leicester Diabetes Centre.

The international centre of excellence in diabetes research, education and innovation is led by Co-Directors Professor Melanie Davies CBE and Professor Kamlesh Khunti.

Professor Davies, Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: “As the country enters a national lockdown, people with type 2 diabetes are now, more than ever, having to manage their condition with less face-to-face support.

“We have made MyDesmond available for free to everyone with the condition in the UK because we want to make sure people have access to high-quality information at this unprecedented time.”

Professor Khunti, Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, added: “The programme has been founded on the NICE- approved face-to-face DESMOND self-management programme.

“This means you are getting the same quality of programme but delivered at a pace and adjusted to suit your needs.

“It includes short videos, articles and interactive activities on diet and exercise you can view as quickly, or as slowly as you like.”

MyDesmond is based on the award-winning DESMOND self-management diabetes education programme.

It brings all the content and research evidence from the face-to-face programme onto a portable interactive web-based platform for you to discover on a mobile device.

It features all the diabetes-related content as well as booster sessions allowing users to interact with the programme on an on-going basis.

There is also an opportunity to ask an expert, while people can also track their activity levels and link up to the Fitbit, Google Fit or Garmin. Weight, blood pressure, HbA1c, diet and cholesterol can also be followed, with an ability to set daily.

This programme gives people with type 2 diabetes the chance to connect and support each other via the chat forum with members of the DESMOND community. 

To sign up for MyDesmond, email [email protected] with your name, preferred email address, the county you live in/your postcode and NHS number (if

you have this to hand).