HSE release details of Diabetes education courses

THE HSE, along with a number of community partners, are this week inviting members of the Kerry public to take part in a number of educational courses on the topic of Type-two diabetes.

Not only do they want to remind people of the importance of early diagnosis of Type-two diabetes, the organisations involved also wish to remind people that very practical education programmes are available free of charge.

X-PERT, which is a free diabetes course run by HSE Community Dietitians, is run across the country and gives people helpful and practical advice on how to live well with Type-two diabetes.

The weekly 2.5-hour sessions provide information on healthy eating and making healthier food and lifestyle choices to manage diabetes.

Other topics covered include the practicalities of living with diabetes such as driving, going on holidays and knowing what complications can occur and how to prevent them.

The X-PERT courses have been run in Cork and Kerry since 2008, during which over 4,000 people with Type-two diabetes have attended the course.

Community venues across Cork and Kerry will again hold this course this year; anyone looking to register their interest in a course can contact Monica O’Sullivan on (064) 667 0763 or visit www.hse.ie/xpert and fill in the online form.

Additionally, the HSE is also advising people with diabetes to ensure they get their feet regularly screened by a health care professional.

“Diabetics need to ensure that their General Practioner or Practice Nurse examines their bare feet once a year. Two checks should be carried out; firstly, both pedal pulses (one on the top of your foot and the other on the inside at the ankle) should be palpated by the clinician using their fingers; secondly, sensation should be checked using an instrument called a Monofilament,” said Imelda Cunning, Podiatry Manager with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.

“Both of these checks allow early detection of foot complications, which can then be referred to the appropriate service for further intervention/ further assessment where necessary,” she said.