Diabetes Centre

• During Coronovirus Lockdown measures the Diabetes/Endocrine Service operates telephone appointments unless it is absolutely necessary for face to face review to take place.
• You will be notified prior to your appointment whether it is to be via a telephone call on the day of your appointment but not necessarily at the designated appointment time or whether you will be requested to attend the centre.
• If you would prefer to have a telephone appointment this can be arranged.

Illness Advice

Please STOP taking the following medication if you are ill with nausea, vomiting, flu like symptoms:

• Empagliflozin (Jardiance), Dapagliflozin (Forxiga), Canagliflozin (Invokana)
• Metformin (Sukkarto, Glucophage, Sukkarto SR, Glucophage SR)

Please contact the Diabetes Team or GP if you receive your diabetes care via your GP, for advice regarding restarting this medication again when you are well.

See attached information leaflets for Diabetes/Endocrine advice including Adrenal Crisis Information for people on long term steroid therapy.

Links for Diabetes COVID-19 advice

Local COVID-19 advice from the Government

Specific Diabetes advice regarding COVID-19 

Local Diabetes group: Diabetes Isle of Man Facebook page

The Diabetes and Endocrinology team are based in the Diabetes Centre, situated on the Noble's Hospital site at Braddan, in a separate building between the main hospital and DATU/Ward 20. The floor plan in the Downloadable Documents section will give you a more detailed view. 

Opening times

The clinics run on an appointment only system, but access to diabetes nursing service is available via the telephone between 9am and 4pm - Monday to Thursday and 9am to 3pm Friday. Messages are aimed to be answered within 1-2 working days. Please remember to leave your name and number clearly when you call.

Contact Numbers

Outpatient Service

The Diabetes and Endocrinology teams run appointment only clinics. We do not offer a drop-in service. All people attending the Diabetes centre should book in with the Welcomer on arrival.

People attending Diabetes appointments are asked to bring several items with them:

1. All of their current medication or a copy of their repeat prescription
2. Their blood glucose meter
3. Their monitoring diary
4. Reading glasses if used
5. Their insulin pen device if used

Medical Diabetes Clinics take place 4 times per week, Specialist Nurse led clinics 5 times per week. Retinal photography is performed at these clinics for patients attending for their annual review as well as the opportunity to see or be referred to the dietitian, diabetes specialist nurse and podiatrist.

The Consultant and Associate Specialist Doctor undertake specialist endocrinology clinics weekly. A wide variety of endocrine disorders such as hyperlipidaemia, pituitary, thyroid, calcium, obesity, endocrine hypertension, adrenal disease, polycystic ovary disease, hypogonadism and hirsuitism are managed. Appropriate patients are referred to University Hospitals across the UK (tertiary care) for further specialist investigations and treatment.

Further specialist diabetes clinics are also in place

1. Combined Antenatal / Obstetric clinic is held fortnightly for women with diabetes who are pregnant and women who develop gestational diabetes. The diabetes team of the consultant, Associate Specialist Doctor, dietitian and diabetes specialist nurse attend this clinic alongside the obstetric team of consultant, registrar and specialist midwife.
2. A Young Persons Clinic is held fortnightly for young people aged 18 to 25 years. The transition to adult care can be an anxious time for young people and their families and we offer joint transition clinics with the paediatric team to help ease the changeover.
3. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Clinic is held monthly and offers in-depth analysis of blood glucose control in order to help people with type 1 diabetes to fine tune their control.
4. The diabetes team also provide an insulin pump service for patients with type 1 diabetes offering education, training and support to patients and families in insulin pump management.
5. A Diabetes Foot Ulcer Clinic is held fortnightly with specialist podiatrists, diabetes consultant and Associate Specialist Doctor in attendance as well as a diabetes specialist nurse. Referrals can be made into this clinic from GP/practice nurse/podiatrist.

Inpatient Service

The diabetes team offer education, advice and support to patients and staff during a hospital admission. If we have been involved with care during the admission, one of the diabetes nursing team will contact the patient after discharge for ongoing advice and support.

Diabetes Specialist Nurse Service

There are 2 diabetes specialist nurses, 2 diabetes support nurses and 2 senior healthcare assistants within the Diabetes Centre who deliver diabetes care, education and support across the Isle of Man. The diabetes specialist nurses, diabetes support nurses and senior healthcare assistants within the Diabetes Centre have specialist training and experience in diabetes and education and deliver diabetes care, education and support across the Isle of Man.

Services delivered by the diabetes specialist nurses and specialist team include:

• Education for people newly diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 and type 2) and their families and carers
• Ongoing education and support for people with diabetes and their families and carers
• Support for healthcare professionals across the Island in diabetes management in a variety of care settings
• Group/individual injectable therapies initiation to improve diabetes control
• Individual insulin initiation for people with type 2 diabetes who can no longer manage on diet and tablets alone
• Intensive management of people on insulin who are struggling with diabetes control
• Insulin pump service
• Continuous blood glucose monitoring service
• Individual management and support for young adults with diabetes
• Individual advice for sports management
• Intensive management and support for pregnant women
• Education for student nurses/overseas nurses in conjunction with the school of nursing
• Education for healthcare professionals across the Island
• Support for the multi-cultural communities on-Island.
• Advice and assistance in the development of diabetes services in hospital and community care.

Referral to diabetes specialist nurses

The diabetes specialist nurses can be contacted by healthcare professionals and by people with diabetes or their carers who attend the Diabetes Centre, 

Telephone: +44 1624 650860

People with diabetes managed by their GP are asked to contact their GP or practice nurse for advice and support.

Inpatients with diabetes can be referred to the diabetes specialist nurses for review via the fax referral system. Inpatients whose diabetes care is provided via the GP surgery should be referred to via the consultant referral system.

Insulin Pump therapy advice for adults

Hypo treatment

Insulin pumps hyper Medtronic

Insulin pump therapy - patient therapy workbook

Plan for Medtronic Pump failure

Plan for Omnipod Handset failure