New online support for people with type one diabetes

10 May 2024 - A support group for people living with type one diabetes is now available for King’s patients

A support group for people living with type one diabetes is now available for King’s patients

A type one diabetic support group has been set up on Facebook by a group of King’s College Hospital patients, with support from the Trust’s diabetes team.

The T1D Peer Support Group at KCH Facebook group aims to give people living with diabetes the opportunity to connect with other people with the same condition. Sara Powell, a founding member of the group, explained: “I’ve lived with diabetes for 42 years and it’s not an easy condition to manage. Diabetes can make you feel very isolated at times, and having someone to talk to can make a world of difference.

“With support from Geraldine Gallen, a diabetes nurse specialist, and her colleagues in the King’s diabetes team, I teamed up with four fellow patients receiving treatment at King’s (Brenda Shore, Sue Goodwin, Matthew Pluckrose, and Lesley Bayly-Bureau) to create an online support group. So far it’s been a great success, and we have over 100 members. We come from a range of different backgrounds but our type one diabetes means we all have one thing in common: we are all there to help each other.”

Dr Sophie Harris, Diabetes and Internal Medicine Consultant at King’s College Hospital, said: “Living with type one diabetes or supporting someone with the condition every day can be hard at times, and we know how helpful it can be to share your experiences with others who understand. This group is a fantastic source of advice and support, and is open to all King’s College Hospital patients who have experience of type one diabetes.”

For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.