Gary Fagg, Chairman of the Paula Carr Diabetes Trust, and Trustee Ros Debling attended a Diabetes UK meeting of the Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks Branch last Tuesday.
Gary Fagg speaking at a Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks Diabetes UK branch meeting
The purpose of the meeting was to provide the group with information on The Paula Carr Diabetes Trust but the main aim was to give information on funding opportunities for alternative therapies available to people in Kent living with diabetes.
Pain Pod
Pictured is Gary Fagg talking about the Pain Pod, a device which provides physical therapy for pain relief. The Trustees have been made aware of the benefits to users of this device and decided to purchase a supply. Attendees were given the opportunity to try the device and then make their own decision on whether they wanted to have a device loaned to them.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Also present was Karen Middlemiss, Member Support Manager at the MS Therapy Centre in Canterbury. Karen spoke about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and how 100% pure oxygen can aid recovery in many conditions. HBOT has been promoted as an effective treatment for diabetic foot wounds. Indeed, Karen showed photographs of a diabetic patient’s open wounds before treatment and the progress made which saved the toes from amputation.
As Kent has one of the highest amputation rates for diabetic patients in the country, The Paula Carr Trustees are offering to fund treatment for people living in the county. The Trust will pay the first membership fee for joining the MS Therapy Centre, a course of 20 sessions and will also provide a voucher to be used against one of the alternative therapies available at the Canterbury Centre.
The next talk and demonstration will be held at Crooksfoot Tesco, Junction 10, Ashford on October 9th starting at 7.45pm. Thanet Diabetes UK Group follows on October 25th at 7.30 pm.