Diabetes is a lifelong condition characterised by high blood glucose levels. These levels are caused by defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or utilise a hormone called insulin. There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 develops when the body’s immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin, leaving the body unable to generate more. Type 1 diabetes is more common in children but can also develop in later life, and is treated with insulin and by monitoring certain aspects of your lifestyle and health.
Type 2 is more common than type 1. Around 90 per cent of adults in the UK who have type 2 diabetes are obese. With this type, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells are resistant to insulin and don’t react to it. You may be able to control your symptoms by eating healthily and exercising regularly. However, type 2 is a progressive condition, and you may eventually need medication.
The Diabetes Resource Centre
The Centre is located at Harrogate District Hospital and provides a base for a dedicated and enthusiastic team of specialist nurses, consultants and administrative staff. We also work closely with paediatric diabetes dietitians and paediatric clinical psychologists.
Whilst our specialist services mainly support Harrogate District Hospital, we liaise closely with community colleagues, including GPs, district nurses and community case managers.
We offer specialist input to several departments and units, including:
- Cardiology
- Dietetics and Nutrition
- Elmwood Day Unit
- Obstetrics
- Ophthalmology
- Paediatrics
- Pathology
- Pharmacy
- Podiatry
- Renal
- Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre
We are not an emergency service. If you require emergency attention, call 999 or visit our Emergency Department.
If you require urgent GP care, you can use our Out of Hours GP Service. Find out more information on our treatment options.
Outpatient clinics and education sessions
We run several clinics and education sessions at Harrogate District Hospital. These clinics are accessed via a referral from your GP.
Clinics
| Clinic name | Time and date |
| Paediatric clinical psychology | Wednesdays |
| Nurse-led clinic | Thursday afternoons |
| Joint diabetes/vascular foot clinic | Monday afternoons |
| Renal clinic | Monday mornings – monthly |
| Paediatric clinic | Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings – weekly |
| Joint obstetric/diabetes clinic | Tuesday mornings |
| Diabetes clinic | Tuesday afternoons |
| Pharmacist-led cardiovascular risk clinic | Tuesday afternoons |
| Young adult transition clinic | Wednesday afternoons – fortnightly |
| Multi-disciplinary pump clinic – to include Consultant and Specialist Nurse | Thursday mornings |
Outpatient appointment enquiries for all the above clinics should be made via the appointment centre on 01423 553373.
Group education sessions
Type 2 group education (HARRIET): this session is for people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and is run by specialist nurses, dietitians, and podiatrists. These sessions take place in:
- Harrogate – Sessions are run monthly and over two weeks at Mowbray Square Medical Centre, Harrogate.
To be eligible for the HARRIET course you must have been newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, within the last 12 months. If you meet this criteria and believe you would benefit from completing the Type 2 education programme, please contact your GP or Practice Nurse who will make a referral on your behalf.
Sessions offer an opportunity to learn about your diabetes, ask any questions you may have and meet others who have recently been diagnosed.
Topics include:
- Understanding diabetes
- Healthy eating and carbohydrate awareness
- Lifestyle choices and making changes
- Achieving a healthy weight and being active
- Monitoring—what do your results mean?
- Medications and living with diabetes
- Putting Feet First—looking after your feet
- Going forwards—your ongoing care
Dose adjustment for normalised eating (DAFNE): this is a comprehensive course for people with type 1 diabetes. Run by specialist nurses and dietitians, you will learn carbohydrate counting skills and how to manage illness and exercise. The DAFNE course runs over a five day period, either all in one week or spread over five weeks.
Inpatient Services
If you have diabetes and are admitted to a ward at Harrogate District Hospital or Ripon Community Hospital, the Diabetes Inpatient Specialist Nurse and/or Diabetes Team may be involved in your care.
You can ask to be referred to us for advice on managing your condition while in our hospitals. Alternatively, hospital staff may refer you to our service. Some departments will assess your diabetes before you are admitted and may refer you to the Team if a need for specialist advice is identified.
Insulin Pump Service
Harrogate is a nationally recognised insulin pump centre, with more than 200 people on insulin pump therapy. Pump therapy is offered to all women with type 1 diabetes as part of their pre-conception care.
Location
The Centre is located on the ground floor of Harrogate District Hospital, on the main corridor.
Equipment supplies/faults
If you have a fault with your insulin pump or continuous glucose monitors (CGM), please contact the manufacturer’s technical helpline directly for advice.
Supplies for blood glucose meters can be obtained from your GP (if a prescription item) or the meter company (if a non-prescription item). These supplies are not routinely available from the Diabetes Resource Centre.
Monitoring diaries can be obtained from your GP practice, meter company or when you attend a diabetes clinic appointment.
Replacement insulin pens are available on prescription from your GP. We advise you to have a spare in case of emergencies.
Research and development
We give patients the chance to participate in national and international research trials. The aim of these trials is to improve knowledge and treatment of diabetes. Some studies such as prevention trials even provide an opportunity for relatives of patients to get involved with research.
You may be approached by the Team and asked if you’d like to participate in a trial. Participation is completely voluntary and is never undertaken without formal consent. Declining to take part in research studies will not affect your care.
Please feel free to ask if you are eligible to take part in any trials.
Our trials include:
- New technology (such as glucose meters, insulin pumps and glucose sensors trials;
- New and developing medications;
- Cross over studies with other specialist areas such as cardiology;
- Providing structured patient education.
Useful links
Diabetes UK is an excellent resource for information, catering for healthcare professionals, people with diabetes and their carers. They provide care events for children, adults and families, and often need volunteers to help staff these events.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a type 1 diabetes charity which offers support and information.
World Diabetes Day was introduced in 1991 to increase awareness about the condition.
The local support group, Harrogate and District Diabetes UK, runs regular events throughout the year. You can contact them on 07969 823753 or [email protected].
Fit 4 Life is a 12 week lifestyle programme that offers advice and support on nutrition and physical activity to people with a BMI equal to or greater than 25. To book onto the programme, please call 01423 556106 or ask your GP to refer you via the referral point. For questions about the programme, please contact the team on [email protected].