More than 10,000 diabetics living in the Grampian area are to benefit from a new experiment in care.
It comes after a team of clinicians and psychologists won £75,000 in funding to develop a new internet-based self-help programme for those afflicted with the chronic condition.
Patients living with Type 2 diabetes will be selected to take part in the ACT Now! pilot.
Those who have most difficulty in managing their condition will be identified.
Patients with Type 2 diabetes who also suffer from anxiety and depression – known to be linked to the illness – will form part of the research group.
The aim is to improve the way sufferers look after and their emotional wellbeing.
Dr Kirsty MacLennan, clinical psychologist and project manager, said that Act Now! was different to other web-based care options because a clinician would be on-hand to make sure patients were getting the best out of the programme.
Patients will be directed to information most relevant to them, with topics such as lifestyle, nutrition and emotional wellbeing all covered in Act Now!
Dr MacLennan said: “Over 23,000 people have type 2 diabetes in NHS Grampian and approximately half of them understandably struggle to self-manage their condition.
“This simply reflects the fact that we all find it difficult to change well-established lifestyle behaviours involving diet and activity, especially when life is tough or demanding anyway.
“This project offers and innovative and person-centered approach to more effective self-management in Type 2 diabetes.”
Patients who will take part in the programme will be identified through their GP.
Act Now! is being developed after the project team won the funding from independent health care charity the Health Foundation.