Diabetes care in 'state of crisis'

[Northerner]

Diabetes care in England is in a "state of crisis" with less than half of people with the condition getting the basic minimum care, a new report warns.
According to the State of the Nation 2012 report, published by Diabetes UK, there are some areas where just 6% of people with diabetes are getting the regular checks and services recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).
The report details how not getting these checks has helped fuel a rise in rates of diabetes-related complications such as amputation, blindness, kidney failure and stroke.
These complications account for about 80% of NHS spending on diabetes and are one of the main reasons that treating diabetes costs about 10% of the entire NHS budget, Diabetes UK said.
The report also shows that a National Service Framework for diabetes - setting out the healthcare which diabetes patients should get - has been in place for 11 years but has not become a reality.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/uk...eZ03H6m87T1pyaxbw?docId=N0072071336865566567A

 

[Abi]

I'm glad the article also mentions self management and " services" in a more general way. Of course the checks themselves are important but they will do nothing to prevent the complications unless the patient has the knowledge and tools to manage their own condition ( enough strips, individualised dietary advice, ca\rb counting when appropriate, individualised insulin regimen etc etc)

 

[Northerner]

I'm glad the article also mentions self management and " services" in a more general way. Of course the checks themselves are important but they will do nothing to prevent the complications unless the patient has the knowledge and tools to manage their own condition ( enough strips, individualised dietary advice, ca\rb counting when appropriate, individualised insulin regimen etc etc)

Absolutely! And it would be interesting to know how many of the people who are receiving their checks still end up with complications because that's all they are receiving, and not the appropriate back up care, education and facility to self-monitor.