support groups

I have attended a couple of the Diabetes UK support groups in Coventry and I wont go again.

There is no pre-meeting get together. The only speakers are ones invited and who toe the NHS line of food and treatment and work for the NHS. There is a Q & A bit afterwards, but only issues which agree with the NHS line are discussed. Challenges, even quiet, gently one are brushed off as they quickly move on.

after the Q & A then the meeting is ended. Again, no chance to chat and socialise with fellow local diabetics.

Not for me. I would be happier with a support group which is not affiliated with either the NHS or Diabetes UK.

mercury said:

Hi All
As a recently diagnosed T2, I looked around my area for a local DB group. As I couldn't find one I thought about starting one with the help of Diabetes UK. Now looking for any thoughts or advice from you lot as to whether you think it's a good idea, and any tips on how to progress. If you already attend a group or maybe even have a hand in running one I would appreciate any advice offered. Thanks in advance

Bob.

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You go for it Bob, it's great chatting and sharing the experiences of other people living with the same condition.....good luck and hope you get a good attendance! :thumbup:

noblehead said:

mercury said:

Hi All
As a recently diagnosed T2, I looked around my area for a local DB group. As I couldn't find one I thought about starting one with the help of Diabetes UK. Now looking for any thoughts or advice from you lot as to whether you think it's a good idea, and any tips on how to progress. If you already attend a group or maybe even have a hand in running one I would appreciate any advice offered. Thanks in advance

Bob.

Click to expand...

You go for it Bob, it's great chatting and sharing the experiences of other people living with the same condition.....good luck and hope you get a good attendance! :thumbup:

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We've got a group in Hounslow - I've reported the meetings I've been to.

There's something about online support such as this forum that allows people to 'speak' their mind whereas perhaps we wouldn't voice our concerns and differences of opinions with NHS guidelines if we attended a support group in person. For one thing, no-one can interrupt our thought flow online, we can't be put off from stating our case, we can air any 'fanciful notions' we might be a little too embarrassed to share if we were sat in a room full of people.

I quite like that aspect of online support, I enjoy the feedback and the support and I also love some of the ideas people come forward with and that all goes to make me feel much stronger about voicing my concerns when I see my GP. I don't feel at all alone with my diabetes since finding this forum.

mercury said:

If you were to attend and make new friends, don't you think you would be able to speak your mind when chatting to them?. by the same token they might be able to answer your questions as people do on here.

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For me personally, no. I get very breathless so I'm much better at 'writing my mind' than 'speaking it'. Also I'm not a great socialiser, not because I'm antisocial but I'm very sensitive to noise and crowds and to me, anything more than 3 in a room is a crowd. But that's just me and I can well understand the need for others to be part of an offline support group. I think it's a great idea.