Diabetes Week Information

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 189 /11
Ref P24
Date: 25 February 2011

To: All Branches


Dear Colleagues

Diabetes Week 2011 - 12–18 June 2011 - Diabetes Week Information Distribution List, Diabetes Week Pack & Resources:


Diabetes Week Distribution List:
The CWU health, Safety & Environment Department works with several healthcare charities in our campaigns for changes and campaigns on awareness raising information provision and sharing. Our contacts at Diabetes UK have asked us to give early notice of Diabetes Week which is Diabetes UK’s annual UK-wide awareness and fundraising week. This year Diabetes Week is 12–18 June 2011 and the charity would like CWU Reps and Branches to get involved in Diabetes Week this year. To receive regular updates about Diabetes Week 2011 between now and June12, or for more information, email diabetes.week@diabetes.org.uk requesting to be added to the Diabetes Week distribution list. The main Website address is:
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Diabetes-Week/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Diabetes UK Careline:
In Diabetes Week 2011, Diabetes UK is encouraging people to talk about diabetes. Learning to live with the condition can be challenging. Diabetes UK provides ways for anyone affected by diabetes to access vital healthcare information, benefit from emotional support and talk to people with diabetes. The Diabetes UK Careline is one of the ways the charity talks with people about diabetes. The service currently receives over 30,000 calls, letters and emails each year. Diabetes UK is aiming to raise £200,000 during Diabetes Week to expand this service and provide even more support: this could include extending the opening hours, reducing the cost of a call to the Careline, introducing in-depth counselling sessions and employing more staff to answer enquiries. How to contact Careline? Call: 0845 1202960, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm or Email: careline@diabetes.org.uk

Or if you are in Scotland: carelinescotland@diabetes.org.uk.Diabetes UK Careline is the only dedicated diabetes helpline in the UK. The confidential helpline is staffed by trained counsellors who can provide information on living with diabetes as well as the time to talk things through.

Diabetes Week Pack and Materials
To help you plan your event, Diabetes UK have included a step-by-step outline and a checklist in the Diabetes Week pack which you can order for free from their Online Shop. Also included in the pack is a promotional poster, a template letter to use when asking for prizes to be donated and a quiz answer sheet, all of which are also available to download from the shop at the following Website address: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... Materials/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

These free materials will help you raise funds and awareness during the week and give you ideas on how to get involved and to promote the importance of talking about diabetes. 

The free Diabetes Week pack contains:
One promotional poster.
One blank poster – to promote any event you are organising for Diabetes Week.
Instructions on how to run a Big Diabetes Week Quiz.
Quiz materials including a promotional poster, answer sheet, template press release and template letter to approach local organisations for prizes.
A coin box.
A template letter to send to your local political representative and inform them about Diabetes Week 2011. See link below.
A factsheet on the importance of talking about diabetes
An A4 sheet of stickers.



Big Diabetes Week Quiz
To help us reach this target this year the Charity is asking supporters to hold a Big Diabetes Week Quiz. Holding a Big Diabetes Week Quiz for Diabetes UK couldn’t be easier. Diabetes UK will provide everything you need to organise and promote your event.

To access the Big Diabetes Week Quiz questions, fill out an online form and you will be directed to the Big Diabetes Week Quiz Question Hub. Here you will find 200 questions, which you can mix and match to create your own individual quiz.

‘Talk to Diabetes UK’
Between now and Diabetes Week more information on what is happening in areas of the UK will be published by Diabetes UK. You can find out more and talk about diabetes with Diabetes UK on their new ‘Talk to Diabetes UK’ section of their Website. http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... abetes-UK/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Products and Services
Diabetes UK has a range of products and services that provide a variety of ways for people affected by diabetes to talk about the condition.  Here you can read a bit more about these services, find out about some of the people who deliver them, and hear from people who have benefited from the services have to say about their experiences. More products and services will be added, so check back for updates. See list of links below to find out more:


Careline:  http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... /Careline/
Support Events: for Children and Families: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... rt-events/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Black Asian and minority ethnic communities: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... mmunities/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Online communities: (Facebook, TwitterBebo, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Formspring and on Diabetes UK own forum, http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;):http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... mmunities/
User Involvement: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... volvement/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Voluntary Groups: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... ry-groups/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Diabetes UK would like to hear from you and what you think about their services by emailing diabetesweek@diabetes.org.uk .



Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 191/11
Ref P1
Date: 25 February 2011

To: All Branches


Dear Colleagues

Diabetes UK Careline - (0845 120 2960, email: careline@diabetes.org.uk)

Diabetes UK Careline is the only dedicated diabetes helpline in the UK. The Careline (0845 120 2960, email: careline@diabetes.org.uk) is a free and confidential service and receives over 2,000 enquiries a month, offering information on living with diabetes or just the time to talk things through. The Careline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and is staffed by trained counsellors with knowledge of diabetes. Recorded information on a number of diabetes-related topics is also available on this number outside of opening hours.

A translation service is available for those who prefer to speak in a language other than English and calls via Text Relay are welcome from people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.
Diabetes UK is aiming to raise funds during Diabetes Week to expand this service and provide extended opening hours and out of hours support, introducing in-depth counselling sessions and employing more staff to answer enquiries.

Many users have reported finding the Diabetes UK Careline a vital source of support contacting Careline often with their personal difficulties or problems, both seemingly trivial and important. Users say that the staff at Careline are always very helpful and have been able to be of help and support. The CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department is pleased to be able to support and recommend to members with diabetes to make use of the support of Careline.

Calling Careline

Members can call the Careline with specific questions, or just to chat things through. Just some of the queries Careline can help with include:

I've just been diagnosed. What should I do now?

I'm finding it difficult to accept the diagnosis – how do I cope?

What can I and can't I eat? Can I still drink alcohol?

What are the different types of tablets and insulin? What are the possible side effects?

When and how often should I test?

What should my blood glucose levels be? What if they go too high or too low?

I'm about to go on holiday abroad. How do I keep my insulin cool in a hot country? What else do I need to consider when travelling?

Careline Counsellors answer calls, letters and emails from people with diabetes, healthcare professionals, concerned relatives and carers on a wide range of subjects: diet, treatments, levels of care, lifestyle issues, media stories, travel and so on.

Living with diabetes can often be lonely. It helps people to know that the Careline provides one place where they will be given the time they need and where they will be listened to, and understood. Also there is the relief of knowing that a community exists in Diabetes UK as a whole, to support them in each and every facet of a life lived with diabetes. Talking things through helps to reduce anxiety, it clears up misconceptions, enables people to be more informed about the condition and gives them the confidence to ask their health care provider the right questions about their treatment. 

Diabetes Week 2011

During Diabetes Week there will be an increased emphasis on Careline, and Diabetes UK expect an increase in the number of calls and emails. They will continue to talk to people about diabetes; answering questions, listening and giving time to the particular and personal concerns and worries of every person who gets in touch.

For more information visit the Careline Website at: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved ... /Careline/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or email careline@diabetes.org.uk or call 020 7424 1000 and ask to talk to someone about Careline.

Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[TrueBlueTerrier]

28 February 2011
LTB 193/11 - Diabetes UK - Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities

No. 193 /11
Ref P1
Date: 28 February 2011


To: All Branches


Dear Colleagues


Diabetes UK - Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities

Diabetes UK is one of the heathcare charities we work with to provide information and resources to CWU Reps and Branches. In the run up to Diabetes Week we are working with the organisation to make information and resources available, encouraging its use, dissemination and support in campaigning to raise awareness of the information available, symptoms, care and support.

The incidence of diabetes is disproportionately high in Black Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities when compared to the white population living in the UK. People from BAME communities are more likely to face inequalities to accessing healthcare and may be in a position where diagnosis and management of diabetes is more difficult or infrequently and inadequately provided. They can be further disadvantaged where English may not be their first language and they are more likely to be socio-economically deprived.

Diabetes UK strives to deliver information and advice to a variety of communities.

Diabetes UK has produced information in a variety of languages for communities who are at higher risk of developing diabetes. Currently, there are 20 languages available and a range of DVDs and CD-ROMs. Tailored information for people with learning disabilities and people in the Deaf community in British Sign Language is also available.

Diabetes UK also produces a newsletter dedicated for people from Black Asian and minority ethnic communities called Diabetes Lifestyle. Last two editions are attached.

If you have any questions or would like more information, email diabeteslifestyle@diabetes.org.uk or call 020 7424 1000 and ask to speak to a member of the Diabetes UK Equality and Diversity team.

Jenne Dixit is Head of the Equality and Diversity Team at Diabetes UK and advises teams about how to ensure their projects are inclusive and meet the needs of people from Black Asian and minority ethnic communities; producing information for people from poorly served communities and working in partnership with other charities and community organisations actively making a difference to people with diabetes. Jenne told CWU that she often finds that people in the Black Asian and minority ethnic communities either have diabetes or know somebody who has; however, there is little awareness about how to manage diabetes and its long-term complications. There are many myths and misconceptions about diabetes in these communities and the Equality and Diversity Team strives to provide information in the language they can understand through channels to suit their lifestyle, culture and religious beliefs. The team helps to raise awareness about the condition and how it can be managed effectively and are currently training people from BAME communities to be Champions so they can raise awareness in their own communities; In one year they have recruited 97 champions!

Diabetes Week 2011

During Diabetes Week the Charity will be telling Champions about Diabetes Week and what it represents and will ask them to raise awareness amongst members in their communities. Whether it is talking diabetes at a community event, a Mosque, temple or church – They aim to spread the messages about diabetes and Diabetes UK amongst BAME communities.


Contact Details:

Jenne Dixit is Head of the Equality and Diversity Team
Diabetes UK Central Office
Macleod House,
10 Parkway, London NW1 7AA
Tel 020 7424 1000
Fax 020 7424 1001
Email info@diabetes.org.uk



Yours Sincerely



DaveJoyce Linda Roy
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer Equality Officer

[POSTMAN]

diabetes.org.uk
Strange,they have registerd on the site.Might be something to do with Linda.