The DRWF team recently spent a weekend in Yorkshire for the annual Diabetes Wellness Weekend, joined by volunteers, speakers and delegates.
The successful event, held in October 2011 at 18th century mansion Oulton Hall, near Leeds, was aimed at people living with diabetes and those with an interest in diabetes who would like to learn more about the condition and improve their lifestyle and personal management skills.
The weekend offered talks, walks, workshops, gentle exercise classes, information gathering and entertainment and was attended by 42 people from all over the UK, from Scotland in the north to Devon in the south of England.
"It was one of the best Diabetes Wellness Weekends we have held so far," said DRWF Events Co-ordinator Lee Calladine. "As this event takes place over a long weekend people are prepared to travel to join us for a pleasant weekend in the company of other like-minded people with diabetes. Attendees share experiences with each other and learn from the visiting healthcare professionals, while at the same time relax and have some fun. It's a nice all-round experience and we always want attendees to go away feeling empowered, more in control of their diabetes and with a greater understanding of how to manage it.”
He added: “Our aim is to help people look after themselves better. The more knowledge and tools they have to manage their diabetes, the greater the chance they have in delaying or preventing the long-term complications, associated with condition.”
The programme over the weekend included talks from various healthcare specialists on a range of subjects, including, for the first time, occupational health.
“We always try to find a real balance while still covering the key subjects like looking after your eyes, feet, diet, weight, blood-glucose levels and medications,” said Lee. “We focused on all of these over the course of the event."
DRWF member and lay member of the DRWF Editorial Advisory Board Heather Davie said: “The Leeds conference was an oasis of learning, exercise, and fun in elegant and comfortable surroundings. The well-designed programme had excellent speakers, some topics dealt with in a refreshingly different way. Something new was an interesting talk from a patient who had undergone an islet transplant. In all ways, a rich mix, interactive and absorbing.”