Around 9,000 people in the borough have diabetes and are cared for by North Tyneside Primary Care Trust and Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust.

Supporting people to manage their own diabetes is a very important element of this high quality care.

The Diabetes Year of Care is a national project set up by the National Diabetes Support Team, Diabetes UK, the Department of Health, and the Health Foundation to look at how patients can be more involved in making decisions about their care, and influencing what services are available to them.

People with diabetes who live in North Tyneside are a hugely important part of this project and can make a valuable contribution to how diabetes services can be designed in the future.

Each session will start with light refreshments and people who attend can claim back the cost of their travel – Tuesday, April 1, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm Shiremoor Centre, Earsdon Road, Shiremoor; Thursday, April 3, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm John Willie Sams Centre (The new Dudley Centre, just off Weetslade Road) Dudley.

Anyone who would like to go along on one of these dates should contact Rachel Turnbull on (0191) 202 2087 or email rachel.turnbull@northoftyne.nhs.uk