Free beginners' tennis courses for local people living with diabetes are being offered at Derbyshire Dales District Council's Matlock Hall Leys Park courts.
The six-week courses on Sundays and Wednesdays from the start of September have been prompted by the Lawn Tennis Association in Derbyshire, which has provided training to raise awareness of people with diabetes playing tennis.
Delivered by the District Council's Active Dales team, the courses - 9am to 10am on Sundays and 5.30pm to 6.30pm on Wednesdays - are being funded by Derbyshire County Council's Public Localities Fund.
Overall Derbyshire Dales has a lower than national average diabetes rate, but in Matlock the rates are higher than the national average.
A District Council spokesperson said:
"Around 8% of the population live with diabetes, but it can be a hidden disability. This programme aims to encourage those new to exercise or newly diagnosed with pre-diabetes and diabetes to help them manage their condition while moving forward. "Tennis has been selected as it can be adapted to support the level of the player. Walking tennis, for example, gives players to have more time to get to the ball as two bounces are allowed.
"This is also an opportunity for us to introduce tennis to beginners, and to get outdoors in the beautiful Derbyshire Dales on our newly refurbished tennis courts in Matlock. "Getting active with other people who live with the same long-term condition can improve mental health as well as physical wellbeing through shared knowledge and experiences, helping especially individuals who suffer anxiety and depression due to the ongoing nature of a disease with no cure, just constant management."
Participants who complete at least four of the six weeks will receive a free tennis racket and set of tennis balls to encourage them to continue playing.
Positive health benefits on diabetes from playing tennis include:
- Reduction of insulin hyper secretion and improvement of insulin sensitivity (particularly important for type 2 diabetics)
- Decrease of simultaneously existing risk factors such as obesity, fat metabolism
- Strengthening of the immune system, which is often weakened by diabetes, thus reducing the incidence of infection
- Improvement of the general physical performance capability, particularly with regards to endurance and start-up speed
- Cultivation of contacts on the social and sporting level with partners of similar motivation and the same disease
To sign up for the beginners' courses, contact Katie Burns on 01629 761389 or email
