Online support for 24,000 with diabetes

The 24,000 people with diabetes in Ayrshire are encouraged to join new online groups, yoga and mindfulness sessions run by Diabetes Scotland while following social distancing measures and unable to access their usual support for wellbeing.

Diabetes Scotland is encouraging everyone with diabetes to pay extra attention to their physical, emotional and mental health and wants to assure people living with diabetes that it is on hand to offer support.

Using online video app, Zoom, digital peer support chats were launched at the beginning of April with a group for people with type 2 diabetes and a group for young adults with type 1 diabetes already running.

The charity hopes to offer a number of different groups for people of various ages living with, or caring for someone with, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other types of diabetes and parents and carers of children with type 1 diabetes.

Angela Mitchell, National Director of Diabetes Scotland, said: “Many people at home are feeling isolated and, if you’re also managing a long- term conwdition like diabetes, it can be even more challenging. Mindfulness and yoga via online video link is also being introduced this month with twice- weekly sessions run by Zen yoga and mindfulness teacher Donna Booth. Mindfulness and yoga will run on Wednesdays at 6pm and Fridays at 3pm for the next four weeks.

Anyone interested in joining either peer support or mindfulness and yoga should email scotland@ diabetes. org. uk to be invited to a group and given instructions on how to access Zoom ( you do not need to register for a Zoom account. Guidance regarding diabetes and coronavirus can be found at www. diabetes. org. uk/ coronavirus or by calling 0141 212 8710 or emailing helpline@ diabetes. org. uk.