The All Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme (AWDPP), under the leadership of Public Health Wales, extends tailored assistance to individuals at an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the primary objective of averting the onset of this health condition.
In excess of 200,000 people in live with diabetes and nine out of every ten of these have type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a serious long-term health condition that often requires a lifelong commitment to managing its effects. It stands as a primary contributor to visual impairment and plays a substantial role in other health complications, like kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes for example.
Hywel Dda is rolling out a programme that works collaboratively with the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion to support those living with the effects of diabetes.
Lifestyle has a profound impact on a person’s risk of developing diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, and in many cases it’s possible to reverse the effects and progression of the disease. Regular exercise, being physically active throughout the day, as well as ensuring a healthy and wholesome diet is consumed are the cornerstone of any diabetes prevention and treatment plan.
In association with Health and Fitness Education (HFE), several members of the Pembrokeshire Leisure Exercise Referral Team will be undertaking a specialist level 4 obesity and diabetes qualification to give them the necessary knowledge, skills, and confidence to be able to support local residents living with/at risk of diabetes. Most of the team have already completed their Level 3 Exercise Referral Qualification, many of which also completed this training with HFE.
HFE is an industry leading provider of fitness instructor and personal trainer courses to the active leisure sector, specialising in health and wellbeing programmes. HFE’s training programmes lead to Ofqual-regulated qualifications which are aligned with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) Professional Standards.
HFE are providing the training on behalf of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) Professionals who are delivered this across the north cluster of Pembrokeshire. Rick Gardiner, Head of Operations at HFE said:
We’re an extremely proud supporter of both the Wales National Exercise Referral Scheme and All Wales Diabetes Prevention Programme. We thoroughly look forward to the training ahead and working with the team at Pembrokeshire Leisure.
Pembrokeshire has already completed the first roll out of the programme with a team of professionals from Hywel Dda which includes dieticians and health and well-being facilitators.
Pembrokeshire NERS team are excited to be a part of the All Wales Diabetes Prevention Project, working alongside the Hywel Dda project team, to reduce the impact that Type II Diabetes has on the community and the local NHS services. HFE have helped to ensure that our staff have received the required training to be able to deliver this project at the highest level.