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DeliciousOne in three missing glucose targets
Monday, November 16, 2009One in three people are struggling to achieve their blood glucose targets and need access to more NHS services to help prevent them from developing long-term health complications including blindness, heart disease, amputation and kidney failure, Diabetes UK has said.
Chief Executive Douglas Smallwood said: "Diabetes UK is calling for better support for people with diabetes to manage their diabetes. People with diabetes make decisions about their diabetes management every day and want to maintain an independent, healthy and active life. If they need support to achieve this, it should be widely available"
Agreed blood glucose levels (HbA 1c)² within the range of 6.5 to 7.5% is the foundation of good diabetes management and helps reduce the risk of long-term complications. It is essential for people with diabetes to have access to good quality care which incorporates structured education and better psychological support to help them achieve good blood glucose levels.
Data from GP practices has revealed that 34% of 2,366,363 people with diabetes – over the age of 17 – only have access to a few hours a year with healthcare professionals, namely diabetologists.
"Diabetes complications are estimated to cost the NHS around £1 million an hour and can have a devastating effect on people's quality of life," said Smallwood. "It is vital that all of the 2.6 million people with diabetes are armed with the knowledge and confidence to manage their diabetes effectively."
Hi, this article has two parts that are confusing and potentially misleading. The title claims that the article is about low blood sugars, which can be very unpleasant and which people with diabetes suffer from usually when trying to maintain goo control. There is no mention of hypos in the text. Also, the quote that 34% of people with diabetes 'spend only a few hours a year with healthcare professionals' reads as if it is diabetics who are irresponsibly avoiding such contact when the fact is most of us would love more time with the professionals. Though in that, for many cases of diabetes, I'm not sure that I include GPs. Type 1 diabetes and children with diabtets should be seeing diabetologists, not GPs, in order that they get the intensive care and support required to achieve good control.
Sue Marshall - Desang Ltd, Brighton
It is disappointing to read that one in three people with diabetes are unable to access the NHS services they need to effectively control their condition. Diabetes is a constantly evolving condition that requires day-to-day management to assess the dangers of complications.
As Douglas Smallwood correctly addresses, diabetic patients need far more support and engagement in managing their own conditions. Improvements in proactive management of the growing diabetic population can be achieved by delivering continuous patient interaction using internet-based technologies. A truly interactive patient portal would provide the ongoing carer/patient relationship that is essential in managing diabetes and its associated complications.
What is now required are joint pilots between the NHS and specialist software companies that can demonstrate the clinical and financial value associated with improved patient empowerment. Proactive management of diabetes is key to enabling more patients to successfully control their diabetes and to reducing the cost and pressure on NHS Trusts.
Mike Paylor - Hicom, Surrey, UK