A NEW diabetes support group in Dudley which is hosting its first regular meeting this week will not be sugar-coating its advice.

The Dudley Borough Diabetes UK group has found a home at Kingswinford Community Centre where it will host talks and sessions on the first Thursday of each month.

Group member and Councillor Paul Brothwood, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, hopes the group will not only attract the borough’s more elderly diabetics.

“There are currently huge problems for youngsters with type 1 diabetes and we need to start raising the profile of it,” he said.

“Many type 2 diabetics are from the older generation, but there are also a lot of problems for young people with diabetes, such as suffering from bullying and depression.

“People with diabetes get told that they can’t do certain things, but I am a champion for scuba diving, so there are no barriers to the things you can do.

“Support groups like this need to get young people involved more, but even starting a group in the first place is a step in the right direction.”

Jacqui Willmore, of Stourbridge, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2003 and has been instrumental in setting up the new group.

The 69-year-old, who will act as group chairman, said: “After I was diagnosed, I contacted Diabetes UK and found them to be very knowledgeable and helpful but I found that I wanted to speak to someone locally with diabetes.

“So in December last year, I went about setting up this new group.”

The group is holding two meetings this week, on Wednesday (November 4) between 12.30pm and 3pm and on Thursday (November 5) between 7pm and 9pm.

Footcare is the topic of the meetings and will feature a talk from the podiatry team at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.

For more information call 01384 891330 or email midlands@diabetes.org.uk