Diabetes Care Centre, Mile End Hospital

Please confirm that you treat those with type 1 diabetes who also have Eating disorders, including those who deliberately manipulate/ omit insulin:     I am an NHS Clinical Psychologist currently specialising in Diabetes. I work with people with diabetes both Type 1 & 2 including those who deliberately take less insulin than they need, to try and control their weight. I also see people with body image concerns and issues around eating (which can include overweight, obesity, binge eating, comfort eating, restrictive eating and people who may be on the bulimia/anorexia spectrum). 

What type of service are you?: (i.e. Eating disorder service, private clinic, diabetes centre) :    I am based in the Diabetes Care Centre of Mile End Hospital and I am part of the Clinical Health Psychology team within Tower Hamlets Community Health Services.  

Where your service is based:     The Diabetes Care Centre, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG  

Who do you care for (i.e. age limits)?:    People living in Tower Hamlets who are living with diabetes from the age of paediatric transfer upwards (approximately age 15 to end of life).  

How to get a referral:     You must live in Tower Hamlets (or be able to obtain a written funding agreement from your local Primary Care Trust) to access my service. You can either self-refer or ask you GP or a member of the Tower Hamlets Community Health Services Diabetes Team to refer you to me.  

If self referral what is the process?:     Call on 0208 223 8836 and leave a message stating you are self referring yourself to: Dr Sonya Frearson, Clinical Psychologist. Please include your name and contact number. Alternatively, write to me: Dr Sonya Frearson, Clinical Psychologist, The Diabetes Care Centre, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG or leave a message with reception the next time you are at the Diabetes Centre.  

If GP/ Diabetes team referral who should be asked for?:     See above  

What approach and therapies are offered?:     If you meet the criteria of living in Tower Hamlets and having diabetes you will be offered an assessment appointment. This is a chance for you to find out more about my service and for me to assess whether I would be the best placed person to help with your concerns. If the outcome of the assessment is that we mutually decide it would be helpful for you to access my service I would add you to my waiting list (current waiting time 3-6mths). If we decide that this is not the right time for you to start psychological work or that someone else would be better placed to offer you help we will discuss what other options there are and how to access them.

When you reach the top of my therapies waiting list you will be offered some sessions with me. These are usually limited to 8 sessions and people choose whether to space them weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Depending on the nature of your concerns and your personal style you may be offered cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive analytic therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, family or couple sessions or a combination of approaches. In the psychological work we will try to make sense of your concerns together. Together, we will also come up with suggestions of things for you to try out between sessions.  

Any Further information/ Comments?:     Unfortunately, I am unable to provide a service or answer personal questions for people who live outside Tower Hamlets, please do contact your GP, Practice Nurse or a member of your diabetes team to find out who can help you locally. The number of diabetes services who have dedicated psychology time is growing. There will also be a local psychology service who can help. If they sound uncertain about your diabetes, you or your Diabetes Specialist Nurse or Specialist Dietitian can explain more about diabetes. You could also ask them to contact a Diabetes Clinical Psychologist to ask for advice.