Departments
Major Illness
Award Winning Diabetes and You Project (DAY)
Over 6000 people living in the Southern Health Board's area have diabetes and a further 2000 are likely to have the illness but don't know they have it. The number of people with diabetes is expected to double over the next eight years.
To tackle the problem, the Board is piloting a new project called Diabetes and You (DAY) to specifically address the needs of newly diagnosed patients with Diabetes. What is the DAY project? The DAY project will enable newly diagnosed patients to meet and have an assessment carried out by all members of the multidisciplinary diabetes team after their diagnosis.
The aim of the project is to provide quality assessment, education and advice to newly diagnosed patients with Type II Diabetes to enable them make the lifestyle changes to manage their diabetes. Patients are invited to attend a DAY clinic in their area. Their GP sends a referral letter to the DAY clinic and patients are offered an appointment for review by the Multidisciplinary Team. All patient details are dealt with in the strictest confidence.
After the clinic patients are invited to participate in an exercise programme tailored to their individual needs. This programme takes place at the local sports centre and is provided free of charge.
The Diabetes And You project has won Diabetes Project of the Year at the Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards which recognise clinical excellence.