Diabetes service — Canterbury

If you have questions, or to confirm or change an appointment:

• phone: 03 364 0860external link
• freephone: 0800 555 400external link
• email: diabetes@cdhb.health.nzexternal link

For appointments, we will need to know:

• your full name
• your national health identifier (NHI) number 
• the day and time of your appointment
• a contact telephone number ​and the best time for us to return your call.

The diabetes centre is at:

Christchurch Outpatients
2 Oxford Terrace
Christchurch

We provide:

• community and outpatient services for people with diabetes in Canterbury
• ongoing review of diabetes management and complications status for selected patients who are at higher risk of developing diabetes complications
• child and adolescent services
• consultation services to the hospital wards
• an acute intervention service with a diabetes physician on call to other healthcare providers 24 hours a day
• support services to healthcare providers in the community to help people with diabetes
• a strong focus on patient education to achieve behavioural changes, including group classes and workshops.

Our nurse specialists work with people who have diabetes and their families to:

• assess your needs and help you come up with a plan
• teach you how to test your blood glucose levels and how to use the results to improve your diabetes control
• teach you how to manage your diabetes using lifestyle changes and tablets or insulin injections
• work with you to reduce your risk of complications and to get the best health outcomes you are capable of achieving.

Appointments with us

When you have an appointment at the diabetes service, bring:

• your appointment letter
• your glucose meter and blood glucose record book (if you have one)
• your food record sheet, and
• a list of your current medications (or bring your medications).

Our team

The diabetes service has a multi-disciplinary team including:

• diabetes physicians
• diabetes nurse educators and nurse specialists
• dietitians who run individual and group sessions to help you learn how to eat to help manage your diabetes
• psychologists who you can be referred to if you are having difficulties coping with your diabetes
• social worker
• podiatrists who see patients who have diabetes and a foot ulcer
• Māori diabetes nurse specialist and health worker
• Pacific Island diabetes nurse specialist who runs Pacific Island clinics and and group education
• diabetes child and youth nurse​.

Learn more about diabetes

You need a referral from your healthcare provider to access the diabetes service.

If you are a hospital inpatient, your doctor may ask for you to be seen by the diabetes team.