PEOPLE suffering from diabetes in Derwentside are being invited to participate in special guided supermarket tours. The aim of the tours is to help people manage their condition successfully and to highlight what to look for when choosing their weekly shop.

They will help people understand the labelling on supermarket packaging.

A tour is planned to take place each month on a rotational basis throughout the year between the Stanley branch of ASDA and the Consett branch of Tesco.

Two community dieticians from the Derwentside locality will be on hand at the events with a number of recipe ideas.

People will be given a chance at the tours to ask questions about any concerns they may have regarding their condition at the end of the tours.

Christine McIvor, who is leading the tours, said: "When you are diagnosed with diabetes, going out for a weekly shop can feel like a daunting task. "Food choices are important for people with diabetes to help them manage their condition successfully.

"The store tours help highlight what to look for on packaging and how to understand food labelling, recipe ideas and a chance to ask questions. They also help people to choose the right food products so that they get the best nutritional value for their condition."

Over the next two months, tours will take place at Tesco in January and Asda in February.

The tours operate on a booked referral system and there are ten places for two groups of five for each planned tour.

Anyone wishing to book a place on the tours or wanting more general information about them can contact NHS County Durham diabetes dieticians team on 01207-584349.