Diabetes & Mental Health

FoodSwitch (iOS & Android): app to support making healthy food choices

iPrescribe Exercise (iOS & Android): an app developed by physiotherapists that creates a 12-week exercise plan based on health information entered by the user. It helps to improve overall health, along with managing a number of long-term health conditions through physical activity. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/iprescribe-exercise/

My Sugr (iOS and Android): an app that allows users to complete a digital logbook that can help with diabetes management. It can track blood sugars, record carbohydrate intake, estimate HbA1c and much more. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/mysugr/

Livia Healthcare app (iOS & Android): an app to help manage conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart problems, and make lifestyle changes using self-monitoring. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/liva-uk/

Digibete app and website (iOS & Android): For children and young people with Type 1 diabetes and their families. The app and website includes a wide range of awareness, education, training and support resources.

Livia Healthcare app (iOS & Android): an app to help manage conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart problems, and make lifestyle changes using self-monitoring. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/liva-uk/

Other mental health apps:

iCope Mental Health Apps Review 2017 – this is a list of free, recommended mental health apps. Recommendations come from iCope clinicians, online app reviews, published studies and feedback from iCope service users.

Diabetes UK is a national charity that supports people living with diabetes in the UK.
Phone: 0345 123 2399
Email helpline@diabetes.org.uk

Their helpline is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm, and is connected to an NHS helpline so you can also ask clinical questions and diabetes nurse specialists or doctors can advise.

They also have a number of resources available via their website:

• Understanding diabetes
• Staying home and managing your diabetes
• Sick day rules for people with diabetes and COVID-19
• Information Prescriptions  (includes tips on how to self-manage with diabetes)
• 15 Healthcare essentials (translated versions available) – the 15 checks that Diabetes UK believes people with diabetes should receive to ensure they stay well
• Food guides (including South Asian, African & African Caribbean guides):
• Translated Ramadan factsheets
• ‘What is diabetes’ factsheet in Bengali
• Translated pages about diabetes

Diabetes UK Learning Zone delivers videos, quizzes, information and more. This is all tailored to you once you have registered and shared some information about your diabetes. All Learning Zone material and courses are completely free: https://learningzone.diabetes.org.uk/

MyType1Diabetes website: For adults with Type 1 diabetes. Includes videos and eLearning courses, to help people understand more about Type 1 diabetes and increase confidence in how to manage it: myType1diabetes.nhs.uk

Diabetes workbook for clients: A workbook developed as part of a research trial looking into how effective collaborative care is for individuals with depression and comorbid diabetes and/ or cardiovascular disease. For more information about this randomised controlled trial visit here: https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h638

Positive Coping with Health Conditions: a self-care workbook written by health professionals that provides strategies to help individuals living with health problems to cope

General mental health websites and workbooks:

These resources support general mental health and may not be specific to health problems.

Northumberland NHS self-help
Brief self-help leaflets on: Abuse, Alcohol, Anxiety, Domestic Violence, Self Harm, Panic, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress, Postnatal Depression, Obsessions and Compulsions

Centre for Clinical Interventions
Detailed workbooks on: panic, worrying, assertiveness, disordered eating, low self-esteem, managing distress, depression.

Talk Plus
This website has a range of booklets and videos explaining step by step how to use some of the key cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, for example behavioural activation, problem-solving, worry management and graded exposure. These may be used alongside some of the therapy sessions you attend in our service.

Good Thinking
Tools and resources to help yourself and others to feel better.

Mind
Mental health charity with lots of useful information.

Diabetes.co.uk Wellness Programme Podcast (DWP) about understanding and managing stress to support good diabetes management

Positive Coping with Health Conditions – Relaxation Method Audio resource that goes through exercises to release tension and promote relaxation. Accompanies a self-care workbook written by health professionals that provides strategies to help individuals living with health problems to cope

General mental health audio resources:

These resources support general mental health and may not be specific to health problems.

Let’s talk about CBT – audio podcast by Dr Lucy Maddox, BABCP

NHS Moodzone – a range of audio guides and podcasts to boost your mood including low mood and depression, overcoming sleep problems, unhelpful thinking, and low confidence and assertiveness

Exercise and mental health – podcast by the Mental Health Foundation

Glasgow Wellbeing Service – a range of audio resources on topics such as anxiety, relaxation, panic, sleep and stress