Raising awareness of T2D among our council, health and social care staff

In the lead up to World Diabetes Day on Saturday 14 November, we held our first ever virtual Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) Awareness Week for all council, health and social care staff across the East of Scotland.

With a live session every day and accompanying resources, we aimed to increase awareness of:

  • T2D and the associated risks
  • The support and services available across the region for those at risk or living with the condition
  • Healthy lifestyle resources and ideas to advance positive change

This forms part of our work with employers to improve the diet and healthy weight support available for our workforce across the region. It was also a chance to shine a light on some of the best practice taking place across local organisations and signpost staff to key resources, including the Diabetes UK Know Your Risk tool.

Recordings of the live sessions on the below topics are now available:

Monday 9 November: Understanding T2D – Dr Suzy Scarlett, GP, Edinburgh

Tuesday 10 November: Challenging our perceptions of diet and healthy weight – Sarah Archibald, Public Health Practitioner, Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership and Laurie Eyles, Professional Advisor – Framework for the Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention of T2D, Scottish Government

Wednesday 11 November: Ethnicity and T2D – Smita Grant, Manager – Minority Ethnic Health Inclusion Services, NHS Lothian

Thursday 12 November: Reaching remission through Counterweight Plus – Eddie’s story

Friday 13 November: Practicing mindful eating – Sarah Tudor, Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology – Weight Management Service, NHS Lothian

Our Let’s Prevent Diabetes practitioners also presented at the City of Edinburgh Council and Fife Council’s health and wellbeing weeks earlier this year, highlighting what people can do to reduce their risk of developing T2D – whilst signposting staff to the support available.

To find out more about our work with Local Authorities and the three NHS Boards across the East of Scotland, please visit our Employer Scope page.