Re: Award winning DESMOND diabetes program comes to the WBOP

Debbie Cunliffe from

People living with type two diabetes, accompanied by family members, are invited to attend a revolutionary, free, one day award-winning diabetes program, hosted by Diabetes Help Tauranga starting January 2018.

The DESMOND program, short for Diabetes Education Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed is delivered by Registered Healthcare Professionals and Diabetes Educators, trained to guide participants to take control over their own diabetes.

“We are proud to launch this program” Debbie Cunliffe, Manager at Diabetes Help Tauranga said. “Participants can expect to learn real life skills for managing diabetes across many areas such as food choices, physical activity, diabetes distress and medications.”

Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic health condition in New Zealand and is set to become the number one burden of disease in New Zealand over the next 10 years. There are currently 241, 463 people known to have diabetes in New Zealand, 10, 391 of these are in the Bay of Plenty.

The DESMOND program is the only evidence-based education program for people with type two diabetes in New Zealand which emphasises that, for the person with type two diabetes their most valuable health resource is themselves. DESMOND was developed in the UK through strong evidence based research and tested by the largest global RCT into education provided at diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes (Davies et al 2008). There is evidence to show that better self-management of diabetes can result in significant and sustained weight loss, increased physical activity, improved general well-being and a better understanding of the psychological distress that can often accompany a diagnosis of type two diabetes.

For further information, or to enrol on a free DESMOND program in 2018 contact info@diabeteshelp.org.nz or ring the Diabetes Help Tauranga INFOline on 07 571 3422.