We're sitting on a diabetes timebomb

[Amity Island]

Diabetes UK chief executive Chris Askew said: 'We're sitting on a diabetes timebomb. Missed appointments and missed or delayed diagnoses can devastate lives.'

Diabetes UK found that checks for people with type 1 fell by 37.5 per cent last year, or 201,000, while for those with type 2 they went down by 40.8 per cent, or 2.25million.

In addition, 60,000 missed out on a type 2 diagnosis between March and December.

Covid has caused 'diabetes timebomb'

Diabetes UK found GPs performed 41 per cent fewer health checks last year than before the pandemic. The backlog has put millions at greater risk of complications including sight loss.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[mikeyB]

I think that hyperbole has taken over as the normal mode of conversation and communicating news. Exactly how does the reduction in check ups at the GP increase the risk of sight loss? Sight checks aren’t done by the GP.

I haven’t missed any checkups, though the retinal screening was a tad late. Routine hospital diabetes appointments have proceeded normally, I’m seen 6 monthly, not sure why, but during the pandemic the first was over the phone, using LibreLink data, and the last two face to face - at a distance, I’m going for my annual asthma review next week down at the surgery. Had one last year, too.

So which, or how many GPs did they survey, and where?

And how many of us have benefitted from advice on diabetes or diet at our surgeries?

And how do they know 60,000 people with T2 missed being diagnosed? Have they been diagnosed, or is this number an invention?

Timebomb my backside. Though I expect advocates of the many other chronic diseases that plague humans would say the same.