My Diabetes My Way: June 2020 Update
Welcome to the My Diabetes My Way Newsletter for June 2020.
Preparing for Online Appointments
As health services change in Scotland and we gradually return to routine appointments, you may be asked if you can meet your healthcare team by telephone or “virtually”, rather than face-to-face. This will not be the case for all appointments, especially when tests are required, but they can save you time and travel costs. Here are 7 tips to help you prepare for an online discussion:
1. Choose your technology: it is helpful to decide ahead of time what device you may require for your virtual appointment. It can be a computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. It may also matter if it is Apple, Android or Windows-based. Having a reliable internet connection is also important.
2. Set-up prior to your appointment: make sure you ask your diabetes team about any technology that may need set-up ahead of your virtual visit. This may include downloading an app or creating a new account. Your appointment letter should contain a contact number in case there is a problem gaining access. Being prepared will reduce the stress of managing new technology during your consultation.
3. Choose a quiet, private place: find a place for your appointment that is quiet so you can hear your healthcare professional, and they can hear you. This will reduce distractions and interruptions, making your appointment more productive. It will also ensure your discussions are kept confidential.
4. Prepare ahead of time: open your My Diabetes My Way account to access the record of the medications you take, your most recent screenings, and goals for discussion.
5. Write down questions ahead of time: the stress of a new type of visit can be a distraction when trying to remember all the things you may want to ask your healthcare professional. Writing down important questions will help you remember them during your visit.
6. Review your treatment plan: you should review your treatment plan with your healthcare team during your visit so you both understand next steps. It is also helpful to write it down, so you do not forget the plan. Ask any questions about the plan during this time to make sure it is clear what you need to do.
7. Set-up a follow-up: at the end of your visit, ask about your follow-up appointment. Ask about other resources and review any topics that you discussed on the My Diabetes My Way website.
Free Online Diabetes Courses
Free online courses are now available for people with Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes at https://elearning.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk. These courses are provided by MyWay Digital Health and have been developed in collaboration with the University of Dundee and the University of Edinburgh. To brush up on your diabetes self-management during COVID-19, register a username and password to get going.
Please note, this service is not connected to myaccount, so you will be asked to create a new account to access eLearning. Your myaccount details will work as normal to allow you to access your diabetes records.
My Diabetes My Way Admin
Due to the current situation with Coronavirus, it is taking us longer to collect mail, create new enrolment packs and send out registration paperwork for you to access your diabetes records. We are currently processing enrolment packs in batches every two weeks, but we are now happy for you to email us back a photo or scanned copy of your signed form to avoid any further delays.
Help and Support
If you have not yet managed to gain access to your diabetes records on My Diabetes My Way, or would like an update on the status of your registration, please let us know. You can contact us regarding any problems or request further help and support by emailing: mydiabetesmyway@nhs.net
Thank you for your continued support and stay safe.