The charity’s division in the midlands and east has distributed more than 6,500 of these packs to 330 pharmacies in Birmingham and Solihull, to improve access to diabetes education for those with the condition and healthcare professionals alike.

The packs have also been made available to 20 pharmacies in Nottingham.

NHS England allocated £25,000 to be used for the initiative across the midlands. The charity expects to expand it to more than 80 pharmacies in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin in February 2023, it said in a statement today (November 14).

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Apart from containing Diabetes UK information signposting patients to its learning zone, the packs also contain material on the new medicines service, the NHS diabetes prevention programme, NHS low-calorie diet programme and MyDiabetes Healthcare Programme – a local education and support service for people with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes training

The charity is also asking local pharmaceutical committees and integrated care systems to signpost pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants to its online CPD, Peter Shorrick, head of midlands and east at Diabetes UK said.

He added that the charity’s Understanding Diabetes module is endorsed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Royal College of Nursing.

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“Community pharmacies play a key role in the prevention, early detection, care and support of people with type 2 diabetes,” Mr Shorrick said.

“The packs help people find all the information they need, empowering them through education and linking them to healthcare professionals, starting with their local pharmacist,” he added.