Educational diabetic kitchen unveiled, funded by The Michael Green Foundation

A brand new educational kitchen facility has been opened at Michael Clements Diabetes Centre at Watford Generel, thanks to a donation by The Michael Green Foundation.

The kitchen, one of the first of its kind in the country, aims to provide dietetic education and advice for patients with diabetes. The disease is exacerbated by dietary abnormalities, so it is important for patients to be aware of ways to control their blood sugar levels and own weight.

The unveiling of the new diabetic dietetic educational kitchen was attended by friends, family, and patrons of the Foundation. Also in attendance was the Mayor of St. Albans, Annie Brewster and Search Office Space's Stephen Moore.

[caption id="attachment_16299" align="alignright" width="360"] Stephen Moore meeting The Michael Green Foundation co-founder Catherine Baldwin.[/caption]

Samantha Jones, Chief Executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "I'd like to say a massive thank you to The Michael Green Foundation for their kind donation, and for helping to open this amazing kitchen. It is a fabulous resource and will really help us in supporting our patients."

The £10,000 needed to establish this important new facility was donated to the hospital by The Michael Green Foundation - a charity set-up by the family of Michael Green, former Head of Corporate Sale at Search Office Space. Michael passed away in December 2012, aged just 53, from a heart attack due to type 2 diabetes.

The Foundation was established by Michael's wife, Joanne, and daughter Natalia, as a celebration of his life and to help raise awareness of the dangers diabetes carries. They have been fundraising tirelessly since June 2013, with the ultimate goal of helping to save lives. Search Office Space has been a proud patron since the Foundation's inception.

"I'd like to add a special thank you to both Joanne and Natalia for all that they've done - and in such a short time," Jones continued. "I am truly impressed by their dedication and commitment."

Dr Michael Clements (after whom the unit is named) is a senior clinician at the Trust and specialises in treating diabetes. He said: “We cannot thank The Michael Green Foundation enough for their tireless fundraising and generous donation.

“The new dietetic kitchen will be extremely important in educating our patients and helping them to understand different ways they can control their own weight and blood sugar levels.

“The UK is currently facing a huge increase in the number of people with diabetes so any new innovative ways to create awareness and educate people such as this kitchen are very important.”

The Michael Green Foundation is committed to diabetes education, and to patient support. Donations can be made here.