Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK have a wide range of resources and services to support people living with diabetes and healthcare professionals:
- Our Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and HbA1c Information Prescriptions are consultation tools that include easy-to-read explanations, clear images and individual goals to help people living with diabetes manage their risk factors.
- Local Support Groups provide an opportunity for people with diabetes to access local diabetes peer support.
- Our Support Forum is a space where people with diabetes, their families and carers, can exchange knowledge and experiences online.
- Learning Zone, is an award-winning, interactive tool to help educate and support people with diabetes. Combining evidence-based medical advice with real patient experiences, it delivers a unique learning experience that complements structured diabetes education. Clinically approved and endorsed by experts – you can log in as a healthcare professional to see what your patients will see.
- Our Online Shop which includes free resources for people living with diabetes and healthcare professionals
For further information and support, your patients can get in touch with the Diabetes UK helpline:
- Telephone: 0345 123 2399, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
- Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
If you're in Scotland:
- Telephone: 0141 212 8710, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
- Email: helpline.scotland@diabetes.org.uk
Keep reading this page for different resources from Diabetes UK, and other organisations, that are applicable to the different topics covered in the Kidney Health mini module.
Treatment guidelines
NICE Guidelines: Type 2 diabetes in adults: management including a visual summary.
NICE Guidelines: Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management includes guidance managing CVD risk in people with type 1 diabetes.
NICE Guidelines: Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management includes guidance on choosing blood pressure medication for people with type 2 diabetes.
SIGN (Scotland) - Risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
SIGN (Scotland) - Management of diabetes: A national clinical guideline.
SIGN (Scotland) - Pharmacological management of glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes.
National cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and risk factors toolkit - a Scotland only toolkit to support the national programme to reduce CVD in Scotland, including significantly increasing the identification and management of people at higher risk of CVD.
NICE Prescribing information for statins.
NICE Guidelines - Peripheral arterial disease: diagnosis and management.
Tools and pathways
NHS Summary of National Guidance for Lipid Management for Primary and Secondary Prevention of CVD.
Making Every Contact Count - evidence-based approach to improving people’s health and wellbeing by supporting positive changes in behaviour.
Should I take a statin? - NICE patient decision aid.
NHS statin intolerance pathway
Heart Health Checks - bookable, 20-minute community health checks run by Heart Research UK.
QRISK Calculator - a tool to estimate the 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke, for those not already on statins or diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
ASSIGN v2.0 Calculator - at tool for use in Scotland only to estimate the 10-year risk of someone developing CVD.
Principles for Prevention – guidance from Heart UK on how to improve the prevention of CVD in the UK.
Stigma
Language Matters: Language and Diabetes – a guide with practical examples of language to support positive interactions with, and outcomes for, people living with diabetes.
Language Matters: Obesity - a resource to help educate healthcare professionals around having conversations with people living with obesity.
Challenging weight stigma learning hub – from Public Health Scotland, a learning resource to help you understand weight stigma, its impact and how to have good conversations about higher weight and behaviour change.
Tackling Inequities
Tackling Inequalities Commission Report – a series of recommendations at an individual and an organisational level to acknowledge and address the health inequities that exist within diabetes care.
No One Left Behind - Achieving equity in diabetes: 2025-2030 Strategy – Diabetes UK 5-year strategy to tackle inequity experienced by people living with diabetes.
Diet
Sugar and diabetes – information from Diabetes UK on free sugar and diabetes, with tips on healthier snack alternatives and cooking from scratch where possible.
Fruit, vegetables and diabetes - tips from Diabetes UK on increasing fruit and veg intake and managing blood glucose levels when living with diabetes.
Understanding food labels – information from Diabetes UK on understanding food labels and using them to guide healthy food choices.
Food labels made easy - our pocket sized leaflet that covers all a person with diabetes needs to know about traffic light labels, back of pack labels and reference intakes.
Meal plans and diabetes - multiple different weekly meal plans to suit all types and tastes, including a Mediterranean meal planner.
10 tips for healthy eating with diabetes – general healthy eating tips are general to help a person living with diabetes manage their blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Losing weight
Weight loss planner – a resource to help you support people to lose weight
Weight loss surgery for type 2 diabetes - further information on weight loss surgery.
Stanols and Sterols – information from the Association of UK Dietitians about incorporating stanol and sterol intake as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
Weight Loss Medications – information on weight loss medications including uses and side effects.
Physical activity
Movement Hub | Sport England – from Sports England, access tools and resources to help people engage with sport and physical activity, including a timeline of daily online classes to suit all levels.
Movement for Health | We Move Together – coalition of Scotland’s leading health charities to support people with long term conditions to become more active.
UK Chief Medical Officer's guidelines on physical activity and our resource section for more information.
Keeping well
National Sleep Helpline: The Sleep Charity – a sleep helpline run by specialist trained sleep advisors.
NHS Alcohol advice - guidance and support to help individuals reduce their alcohol consumption.
NHS Quit smoking – information and advice on stopping smoking, including information about local services.
Quit Your Way (Scotland) - advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland, including a helpline and information about 1-to-1 support.
What are continuous glucose monitors? – information about continuous glucose monitors from Diabetes UK, including pros and cons and where to get help and support.