X-PERT Diabetes Education Programme

As part of the Tackle Diabetes project, Wolves Community Trust is delivering the X-PERT Diabetes Education programme. The X-PERT programme is a 6 week structured programme for people with type 2 diabetes, based on the principles of patient empowerment, patient centred and discovery learning.

The content covers a wide range of topics relating to the management of diabetes as well as allowing participants the opportunity to discuss and address issues relating to their diabetes care.

The programme has been shown to improve diabetes control, reduce diabetes medication, increase self-management skills, and improve lifestyle and quality of life. The course content includes;

Week 1 – What is Diabetes?

Digestion and blood glucose. Healthy lifestyle for looking after diabetes. Exploring medications and how they work. Health results – what do they mean?

Week 2 – Weight Management

Healthy eating with the “Eatwell Plate”. Energy Balance. The benefits of physical activity.

Week 3 – Carbohydrate (starches and sugars)

An important nutrient in diabetes. The quantity (amount) and quality (type) of carbohydrate foods. What carbohydrates are you having?

Week 4 – Reading & understanding food labels.

Looking at the foods you buy. Understanding the traffic light system, guideline daily amounts (GDAs) and nutritional labels. Dispelling the myths.

Week 5 – Possible complications of diabetes

Low and high blood glucose levels. Possible complications of diabetes & prevention. Importance of regular check ups. Special considerations when living with diabetes.

Week 6 – Are you an X-PERT Game.

Questions and Answers. Comments and feedback.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended that patient education programme’s like X-PERT should be an integral part of the care for people with diabetes and should be offered to all people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

For more information on the X-PERT diabetes education programme log onto; www.xperthealth.org.uk

For more information on these local X-PERT courses that are delivered as part of the Tackle Diabetes initiative, please contact; Katrina Maguire, Diabetes Project Manager on 01902 687039 or email katrinamaguire@wolvescommunitytrust.org.uk