Accessibility ToolsSupport Groups
Across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW), there is a wide network of support for people living with diabetes. This includes:
- Local diabetes teams in hospitals and community clinics who offer education, treatment, and review services.
- GP practices and diabetes nurses who provide ongoing monitoring and medication support.
- Structured education programmes like DESMOND and DAFNE to help you learn how to manage your diabetes day-to-day.
- Pharmacists and dietitians who can give advice on healthy eating, blood glucose checks, and medications.
- Peer and voluntary groups offering emotional support, shared experiences, and local information.
You can also access online and telephone support through national charities such as Diabetes UK and Kidney Care UK, as well as local STW diabetes helplines and community health services.
Together, these services aim to make sure everyone in STW living with diabetes has access to the right care, education, and emotional support — close to home.
This independent group affiliated with Diabetes UK offers support, information, and social events for children and young people with diabetes and their families, according to an information leaflet on the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust website.
For those at risk of Type 2 diabetes, LWTC provides a free, nine-month programme that includes coach-led groups or an online app to support lifestyle changes.
For Specific Support & Information.
This service, available to adults with diabetes in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, provides education, specialist advice, and structured education programmes.
For children and young people up to 19 years old with diabetes, the team provides support from diagnosis and can be contacted via the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust website.
There are several diabetes support services operating in the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin areas, primarily organised through NHS services and the national charity Diabetes UK.
Diabetes UK Telford group - this group meets monthly to support people with diabetes in Telford and Wrekin.
Venue: The Pod, Stickland House, Wellington, TF1 3DP.
Meetings: First Wednesday of the month (excluding January and August) at 18:30.
Diabetes UK Shrewsbury and District Voluntary Group - this self-help group offers a friendly and supportive environment for people with diabetes and their families.
Venue: The Hummingbird Centre, Shrewsbury.
Meetings: First Tuesday of each month (from April to October) at 19:30.
Shropshire and Borders Family Group - a committee-run group of parents and healthcare professionals who organise events and meetings for families with children and teenagers with diabetes. For details on meetings, check their Facebook page or email: diabetesuk.shropshirebordersfg@gmail.com.
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust - provides a Community Diabetes Specialist Nursing Service across the region for adults with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They run clinics in various locations, including Shrewsbury and Telford.
X-PERT (for type 2) - The X-PERT Health programme is designed to empower people with type 2 diabetes to better understand and manage their condition through lifestyle changes, covering topics like healthy eating, physical activity, and blood glucose management. The programme is typically delivered as a series of group sessions by trained educators available face-to-face across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin.
The X-PERT Diabetes programme is delivered by the Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust with the aim to:
- To increase participants' knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their type 2 diabetes.
- Usually A six-week course with weekly 2.5-hour sessions.
DAFNE (for type 1) - to be referred to the DAFNE program, you must have Type 1 diabetes and contact your GP or diabetes team to discuss a referral to a local DAFNE centre. The team will then put you on the right pathway and complete the referral, which typically involves an initial appointment for assessment and preparation.
DAFNE (for type 1) - to be referred to the DAFNE program, you must have Type 1 diabetes and contact your GP or diabetes team to discuss a referral to a local DAFNE centre. The team will then put you on the right pathway and complete the referral, which typically involves an initial appointment for assessment and preparation.
The Diabetes Specialist Nursing Team is a clinically led service that provides care, advice and support for parents and carers of children and young people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes aged 0-19 years across Shropshire.
They specifically provide care to children with type 1 diabetes, or those with type 2 diabetes who manage their diabetes with insulin, or who are unable to control their diabetes with tablets alone and require injections.
They provide education, skills and knowledge in the management of the condition, and work in close partnership with patients to help them gain independence so that they can achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves as individuals. The services are inclusive and are age and development tailored.
Is support provided for parents and carers?
Yes, Shropshire Council provide support for parents and carers as diabetes affects the whole family in all aspects of the child’s life.
Who can access the service?
Children and young people with a diagnosis of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) who are resident in Shropshire, aged 0-19 years.
How can we access the service?
Referrals are immediate at the time of diagnosis via local secondary care providers.
Alternatively, when children with pre-existing diabetes move into the area either with their families or into boarding schools or are placed in the county as a looked after child.
There is no cost for the service, the referral system is via the diabetes consultants in secondary care or your GP.
When and where is our service available?
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm (except public holidays).
Services are delivered in the child/young person's own home or usual place of residence, nurseries, pre-schools, school, college, holiday and after-school clubs. They also see children and young people when they attend their hospital clinics and In-reach into secondary care settings to provide training to the staff (doctors, nurses).
The team is based at Coral House in Shrewsbury but covers the whole of Shropshire.
How can families contact the service?
- Diabetes nurses on 01743 450855 (option 2)
- Diabetes doctors can be reached via the paediatric secretaries on 01952 641222 (extension 5980 or 5981)
- Diabetes dietician on 01952 641222 (extension 4874)
In an emergency during working hours when you can't reach one of the team above or for out of hours support, i.e. after 5pm or at weekends, all patients requiring advice should contact the Princess Royal Hospital switchboard on 01952 641222 and ask to speak to the paediatric registrar for diabetes advice.
Shropshire Together Community Directory - this is a useful resource for finding health and support services, including details for the Independent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) and the Diabetes UK Shrewsbury group.
W: Home | Directory Shropshire
Healthwatch - an independent champion for local health and social care services, their online directory provides a list of local support contacts.
Telford's friendly Healthy Lifestyle Advisors are here to support you make the change in your life that you always wanted to make. For free and confidentially.
Healthy Lifestyle Advisors can help you live a healthier life, do more of the things you want to do, and generally improve how you feel.
With personalised one to one support from our Healthy Lifestyles Advisors, you can achieve those goals.
Their advisors have helped thousands of people to live healthier using their expertise and knowledge of local support.
They are here to help, if you are looking to:
- eat better
- drink less
- exercise more
- reduce your weight
- improve your wellbeing
- lower your blood pressure and cholesterol
- reduce risk of developing type 2 diabetes
If you live in Telford and Wrekin (or are registered with a Telford & Wrekin GP), the Healthy Lifestyles team are here to support you for free and confidentially.
Support consists of 6 structured one-to-one appointments over 12 weeks. We are currently booking face-to-face, telephone and video call appointments.
Please note that the Healthy Lifestyle Advisors and Practitioners are not clinically trained and offer only healthy lifestyle advice and support.
To register, please complete the online form:
Healthy Lifestyles - Online form - Telford & Wrekin Council
LIVEWELL Hubs - Live Well Telford provides information to a wide range of services, activities and organisations in the area; to help everyone find the support they need to live healthy independent lives.
W: Home | Telford & Wrekin Livewell Directory
Healthwatch - an independent champion for local health and social care services, their online directory provides a list of local support contacts.
The Children with Diabetes UK (CWD UK) online groups and the Children with Diabetes UK Advocacy Group are patient-led support groups for families of children with diabetes living in the UK. It is run by families of children with diabetes.
The groups are open to parents/carers who want to discuss all of the personal and scientific aspects of diabetes in children and how it affects their family’s lives. We aim to support families with newly diagnosed children or any families who wish to discuss raising a child with diabetes.
Diabetes Specialist Nursing Team - SaTH
The diabetes specialist nursing team are a clinically led service that provides care, advice and support for children and young people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes aged 0-19 years across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and North Powys
You are likely to meet the following people when using our service:
- Children and Young People Diabetes Specialist Nurses
- Support Worker
- Administrator
The following key services are offered by the diabetes specialist nursing team:
- Support to children and young people, their families and education settings across Shropshire and North Powys
- Frequent contact with the team. We will see you at home, at nursery/school/college and have a mixture of face to face, virtual (such as Attend Anywhere) and telephone contact.
- Education and skill development so children and young people can manage to live with the condition to the best of their ability
- Education and advice to professional and non-professional staff who care for children and young people with diabetes
- Structured education programmes
- Attendance the multi-disciplinary clinics at Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal hospitals.
Severn Pumpers Group - SaTH
The Severn Pumpers group is a patient support network for individuals with Type 1 diabetes who use insulin pumps. It is an initiative of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and serves people in Shropshire, Telford, and Powys.
Key activities and features of the group include:
- Annual meetings - the group hosts an annual event for insulin pump patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and technology providers. These meetings feature expert speakers who share insights and discuss innovations related to Type 1 diabetes and insulin pump technology.
- Networking and support - the annual meetings provide a forum for patients to connect with each other, share their personal experiences, and offer mutual support.
- Education - clinicians and specialists are on-hand to offer advice and guidance, and attendees can get updates on new technologies, such as hybrid closed loop (HCL) pumps.
- Technology interaction - insulin pump company representatives attend the events to showcase the latest innovations and answer questions from patients.
- Community engagement - the group, founded by patients themselves, works with clinicians to create a supportive community for managing Type 1 diabetes with pump therapy.
Diabetes Foot Group (DFG)
The Diabetes Foot Group (DFG) at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) is a patient support network for individuals living with diabetes who have or are at risk of developing foot disease. The group provides an open forum for people to discuss issues, share experiences, and receive support and guidance.
The DFG aims to provide patients with diabetes-related foot disease an open, supportive environment to discuss their condition. This type of informal support helps people manage the emotional and practical challenges of living with a chronic foot condition.
Topics covered:
Discussions and guidance at DFG events focus on practical issues related to diabetic foot care.
This includes:
- What to look for during a daily foot check
- Recognising signs of infection or ulceration
- Proper footwear selection
- Where to get specialist care
The group has been involved in events organised by SaTH and its Diabetes Foot Care team to raise awareness of diabetic foot complications. These events provide educational resources and expert advice.
The DFG supplements the Multi-Disciplinary Foot Team (MDFT) clinics offered by SaTH, which provide clinical care for urgent foot problems. The MDFT includes specialists like diabetes consultants, vascular surgeons, podiatrists, and orthotists.
You can contact the diabetes foot team directly for details on upcoming DFG meetings and events.
Phone: 01743 261000 ext 3055
Email: sath.dfcadmin@nhs.net
Telford Diabetes UK Group
Diabetes UK is the organisation for people with diabetes. We stand up for the interests of people with diabetes by campaigning for better standards of care and funding research to improve the treatment of diabetes and to find a cure.
Type 1 Diabetes Support Group
An open forum to help people ask questions and give feedback, tips and advice based on experience.
Telford Diabetes UK Group
Diabetes UK is the organisation for people with diabetes. They stand up for the interests of people with diabetes by campaigning for better standards of care and funding research to improve the treatment of diabetes and to find a cure.
: Home | Telford Diabetes UK Group
E: TelfordDiabetesUK@Gmail.com
W: Home | Telford Diabetes UK Group
Children’s T1 Diabetes Group
Offering support, networking and fun to those families who have been touched by type 1 diabetes.
: Home | Children T1 Diabetes Family Group
Shropshire Community Adult Diabetes Structured Education
Shropshire Community Hospital Trust offer structured education to adults with diabetes in Shropshire.
: Home | Shropshire Community Adult Diabetes Structured Education
| Children With Diabetes | Help for UK Kids with Diabetes Children with Diabetes UK |
| SCHT | Support group information |
| Diabetes care to adults | |
| Diabetes care for children and young people | |
| T&W Council | Telford & Wrekin Council | Healthy Lifestyles Service |
| Shropshire Council | Diabetes | Shropshire Council |
| Diabetes UK | Shropshire and Borders Family Group | Diabetes UK Volunteering |
| Home | Telford Diabetes UK Group | |
| Healthier You | Home | Healthier You |
| SaTH | Children and Young People’s Diabetes Team – SaTH |
| Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin | Home | Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin |
| Healthwatch Shropshire | Home | Healthwatch Shropshire |
| Diabetic Foot Study Group | Home - DFSG |
| Severn Pumpers | Diabetes experts to headline Severn Pumpers annual event – SaTH |
| X-PERT Health | X-PERT Health Diabetes Education and Weight Loss Programmes |
