Diabetes: my information, my support
- Section: People and Networks, The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 24th August 2022
The ALLIANCE’s new report details people’s lived experience of diabetes information and support in Scotland.
A refreshed Diabetes Improvement Plan was published by the Scottish Government on 25 February 2021. To ensure the delivery of the Plan is influenced and informed by people living with and/or at risk of diabetes, the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) and Diabetes Scotland have supported the development of a Diabetes Network to directly hear about people’s individual experiences.
The network brings together people affected by diabetes to discuss and feed back to the Scottish Government as the Diabetes Improvement Plan is implemented. One priority identified in the plan is to make improvements to the provision of information and support to people when they are diagnosed with diabetes.
To hear more about people’s lived experience of both diabetes information and support we organised an online survey, a series of focus groups and a workshop facilitated by Networking Key Services (NKS).
The learning from these engagement methods informs our new report, which highlights:
- The demographics of those who shared their views with us;
- People’s experiences of diagnosis and the initial support they received from their health care team;
- The types of diabetes information and support that people said they would find helpful;
- The importance of being able to access emotional and psychological support;
- The flexibility required to make this support effective;
- The barriers to accessing diabetes information and support;
- And how to overcome these barriers.
People’s experience of diagnosis was mostly positive, with the majority of people sharing that they had been supported by their health care team to understand and manage their diabetes when diagnosed. Accessible information and support provided at an early stage influenced people’s perception of their diagnosis. There was agreement amongst our online survey respondents that people living with diabetes should have access to support for emotional wellbeing and mental health. And people stressed the importance of a flexible approach which is tailored around their individual needs.
If you have any questions about the report, please get in touch with us at diabetes@alliance-scotland.org.uk
The full report and a summary of our key findings are available to read below.
End of page.
You may also like:
If you offer or have offered help and support to family member or friend with dementia, Dementia Carers Count like to hear from you.
Continue readingCome and voice your opinion at one of our focus groups for people affected by cancer in Dumfries and Galloway.
Continue readingScottish Learning Disability Week celebrates the rich contribution that people with learning disabilities make to society.
Continue readingIf you have received a diagnosis of cancer, or if you have supported and cared for an individual with cancer, we want to hear from you.
Continue readingThe No.1 Befriending Agency’s Carers Connections project offers carers in Glasgow a pathway to connect with other carers
Continue readingDo you have more than one long-term condition, or care for someone that does?
Continue readingA new strategic plan is being developed to improve the implementation of Self-Directed Support in Scotland.
Continue readingLived experience and involvement is at the core of the Social Security Scotland development process.
Continue readingJoin the Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm programme to shape action to reduce gambling harms in Scotland.
Continue readingCollaborations with members helped us to strive for innovation and service development across health and social care.
Continue readingAn update of the development and progress of the ALLIANCE Lived experience networks.
Continue readingThe Links Worker Programme continues to expand, reach and support individuals across Scotland.
Continue readingSharing our growing membership offer and activities during 2022.
Continue readingIn 2022, our Macmillan Lived Experience Programme launched a peer evaluator project offering focus groups with people affected by cancer.
Continue readingThe Academy delivered a broad ranging programme, exploring key issues in the context of transformational change in health and social care.
Continue readingScottish Ballet and the ALLIANCE are enhancing the developments of dance health as an integrative social prescribing model for Scotland.
Continue readingHumans of Scotland share stories to raise awareness, educate, challenge stigma, and spark conversations.
Continue readingCommissioned by the Scottish Government the ALLIANCE reaches out to individuals to help improve Audiology services provided across Scotland.
Continue readingA national charity looking for local people and projects that are building connection in Glasgow.
Continue readingStay up-to-date with this year’s work from the ALLIANCE Carer Voices project.
Continue readingFor International Human Rights Day 2022 we asked ALLIANCE staff, members and partners what human rights mean to them.
Continue readingWe want to improve the cancer journey. Can you help us do this?
Continue readingThrough case studies from across Scotland, this new publication evidences culture change towards compassionate, person centred care.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE is supporting the development of a ‘once for Scotland’ diabetes education pathway for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Continue readingCo-designing focus groups with people affected by cancer from a diverse range of communities.
Continue reading