Diabetes Awareness Drop-in Session

The Basildon and Brentwood Alliance and the Practice Manager of Fryerns and Knight Surgery, used data insights to identify Diabetes Awareness as an important topic for a cohort of patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

These patients were invited (via text message) to a Diabetes Awareness Drop-in Session and Track Walk in May, delivered in collaboration with Everyone Active at Basildon Sporting Village.

The event provided health checks, information and resources on diabetes and condition specific health checks. There were also talks from Diabetes UK and Vita Health providing additional information and information about the support they provide. Light refreshments were also provided.

Following talks, patients and practice staff took a stroll around the Athletic Track at Basildon Sporting Village. This helped to:

• build relationships between staff and patients and reduce social isolation  
• help patients feel welcome and comfortable at a leisure centre setting and showcase the activities provided by Sports For Confidence  
• remind patients of the importance of exercise and the benefits gentle exercise can have on long term conditions  

Julie Harper, Practice Manager, Fryerns & Knights Surgery said:

“Attending the event were two of the GP Partners, Dr Basu and Dr Odutola, Nurse Practitioner Stella, Practice Nurse Michelle, Health Care Assistant Tracey, Care Coordinator Nnamdi! These staff were available to do various checks that were due such as Blood Pressure checks, diabetic foot checks and blood tests. We were also able to book patients in for other checks such as asthma reviews. It was lovely for us to walk and talk with our patients and everyone agreed that they felt better for a bit of exercise (and didn’t feel too guilty having a biscuit)!
The event built on the success of a slipper swap event at the surgery earlier this year which helped patients prevent falls during the winter. The positive impact of taking a proactive approach to prevention encouraged the practice to organise another event."

Published: Aug 28, 2025