Thread by @James_Ridgeway_

1/16
Time for another #thursdaythread 🧵
The first in collaboration with the awesome @diabetes_chat
This one is all about #diabetes peer support 🫂

#diabeteschat #GBDoc

2/16
This thread will help you to:
- Understand what peer support is.
- Identify the benefits and interests of peer support.
- Highlight the principles of peer support.
- Discuss key examples of peer support.

The information is from a presentation I did today for @uhlinptdiab

3/16
So first let's find out what peer support is.

Here is a nice short video which gives a great explanation.

4/16
Peer support could be defined as emotional, informational and practical support from people who have experiential knowledge of a condition💭

In a way that can be mutually beneficial to those who have the same condition🤝

5/16
Peer support has been shown to have a number of benefits, such as:
- Enhances self-management👍
- Sustains behaviour change.
- Improves psychological well-being🙂
- Reduces the risk of hospital admission🏥

I think it gives people belief ''if they can do that, so can I''.

6/16
So we know what it is and what benefits it can have.
But how important is it to people?
To help answer the question I ran a @Twitter poll earlier this week📶
As you can see the Twitter community thought it was important.

7/16
@sotonDSN made a really good point saying that the Twitter community could be seen as a biased platform to gain opinions of peer support.

It was also highlighted by others that the use of peer support might not be important for some at the present.

8/16
But there might be a moment in a person's life when peer support is much more needed.

@loopingntheloup made a great comment describing it as like cold water swimming 🏊‍♀️

At first, you don't necessarily want to get wet. But it's brilliant once you have dived in.

9/16
The importance of peer support was highlighted late last year with the release of the @NHSuk #t1d peer support guide in collaboration with @DiabetesUK and @JDRFUK 📑

england.nhs.uk/long-read/the-…

The guide has six key principles 6⃣ which is highlighted below.

10/16
1⃣Driven by shared #t1d experiences.
2⃣Opportunities to learn from one another.
3⃣Safe and encouraging.
4⃣Accessible and inclusive.
5⃣Person-centred.
6⃣Complementary, working with health and social care providers.

11/16
Peer support can happen in a variety of ways.
There should not be a one size fits all approach👞

It can be in person e.g. at a coffee shop ☕️

Or even online 💻📱

@DiabetesUK have some great peer support groups around the country: diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/lo…

12/16
In terms of online @Twitter has enabled some amazing peer support groups/opportunities.

For people with #diabetes, their loved ones and healthcare professionals, I want to highlight two in particular and say a big thank you for all you do👏

13/16
@gbdoc
(@julesbhrh, @DiabeticDadUK, @LauraNoraLou and all other hosts)🥇

@diabetes_chat
(@welshy_89, @MLGMelon, @flippper1, @GKahler2, @Kes_t1D_SW, @SwitchAgenda)🥇

Thanks to you all many people with #diabetes have a place, a family, and a supportive community.

14/16
I am very happy to become part of the @diabeteschat team to give peer support where possible👍

But I am also happy to announce that within my work roles, I am to facilitate an @myomnipod peer support group for users within @NHS_LLR🌟

15/16
My team @uhlinptdiab hope to see this be a catalyst for other insulin pump peer support groups in the local area as well as groups for different #diabetes treatments, circumstances, types etc.

16/16
To finish this thread I just want to say that I think #diabetes peer support is very important.

It's not often you bump into people out and about living with diabetes.

My first experience of being around other people with #T1D was during @DAFNEUK and it was amazing.