Diabetes Centre
A unit devoted to the care of people with diabetes was first opened in 1993 on the old Dorset County Hospital site in Princes Street by Professor Harry Keen the Chairman of the British Diabetic Association, now known as Diabetes UK. With the opening of the new hospital, the Centre moved to its present location at 50 Bridport Rd.
The Diabetes Centre is situated in the ground floor of the building and consists of a reception area, waiting and meeting room, consulting rooms, chiropody room, and offices for members of the team and administrative staff. Notice boards and leaflets offer information about diabetes and its care, and the local branch of Diabetes UK provide up to date information about its activities. A computer terminal in the waiting room allows access to internet sites about Diabetes.
The Centre provides a base for the Diabetes Team, although much of the work of the team also takes place in the Community Hospitals at Blandford, Bridport and Weymouth, which is a vast area to cover. The Centre is a place where we can come together from time to time as a team to discuss our work and the services we offer. We hope it also provides a focal point for people to pop into or contact with queries and concerns about diabetes.
Contents
Also in this section:
- Clinics
A full list of clinics offered by the team, both at and away from the Diabetes Centre.
- Diet
Learn how to adapt to a healthy diet that will help control your diabetes.
- Diabetic Eyecare
The importance of eye screening.
- Diabetic Footcare
How to take care of your feet as a diabetic.
- Going into Hospital
Details.
Latest news
Meter Alert: July 2006
If you use any of the following meters manufactured by Abbott Diabetes Care:
- Freestyle;
- Freestyle Mini;
- Medisense Optium Xceed
Please contact the manufacturer on freephone 0500 467 466 as you may need a replacement.
On some of these meters the ‘mmol/l’ display is changing to ‘mg/dl’ particularly when the batteries get low. A ‘mg/dl’ reading would be much higher than your normal reading and you would not see a decimal point.
Always make sure the meter displays ‘mmol/l’ when you perform a test.
Activities
There are a range of activities held at the Diabetes Centre:
- Monday
AM: Specialist Nurse Clinic.
PM: Monthly group education session for people on insulin.
- Tuesday
AM: Specialist Nurse Clinic.
PM: General Diabetes Clinic and Renal Clinic.
- Wednesday
AM: General Diabetes Clinic.
PM: Group education session.
- Thursday
AM: Specialist Foot Clinic.
PM: Specialist Nurse Clinic and special group education sessions (e.g. carbohydrate counting).
Further clinics taking place away from the Diabetes Centre.
Contact information
Address
Diabetes Centre
Dorchester County Hospital
50 Bridport Road
Dorchester
Dorset.
Telephone numbers
Reception and appointments: 01305 255130
Secretary: 01305 255737
Diabetes Nurse Specialists: 01305 255342
Diabetes Dietitian: 01305 255211
Main Hospital Switchboard: 01305 251150
All numbers have an answer phone facility. Please use it as it is normally the quickest way to make contact.
Please note we do not offer an evening or weekend service.
Make sure you leave your name, telephone number and the best time to reach you.
If you have an urgent problem with your blood glucose control which you feel cannot wait for a returned phonecall, or if it is out of hours, you should contact your GP.
Useful links
Here are some websites that contain useful information and support for diabetes patients.
- Diabetes UK
A site containing a lot of useful information and links.
- Local Diabetes UK Support Group
The West Dorset support group.
- Footcare information page
A site produced by the team chiropodist.
- Novonordisk
An insulin producing company. Contains links about caring for Diabetes.
- BD Diabetes
A company that produces Diabetes products with useful information.
- JDRF
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation website.
- Type 2 Diabetes Education
An excellent education programme for patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Requires Flash Player.
- Dorset eye screening website
Dorset Diabetic eye screening programme.
- Sanofi Aventis
Information about diabetes from the pharmaceutical company Sanofi Aventis.
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