Diabetes patients 'lacking help'

People with diabetes in England need more support to help them manage their condition themselves, a survey finds. The Healthcare Commission also found more could be done to improve hospital care for people with diabetes.

However, the survey suggests the NHS does offer an annual check-up for most patients - a target laid down in the government's national standards. The Healthcare Commission surveyed over 68,500 patients, 1,500 general practices and primary care trusts. The aim was to assess improvements in diabetes care since the publication of the government's National Service Framework in 2001.

Almost all respondents said they had an annual check-up to assess their condition, and most said they had been tested for complications in the last 12 months. This included checking blood pressure (98%), long-term blood glucose levels (91%), weight (91%), and cholesterol (89%). However, only 11% of respondents had attended an education course on diabetes and how to live with the condition - even though one in four people who had not been on such a course said they wanted to attend one.

It is important that people are aware which type of diabetes they have as different types require different care. But the commission found 17% of people with diabetes did not know if they had type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

The survey also found that of the 19% of respondents who had been admitted to hospital in the last 12 months, 68% said that all of the staff were aware they had diabetes. However one in 10 said none of the staff provided what they needed to manage their condition.

Some 11% of inpatients with diabetes said they "rarely or never" received food suitable for them, and 9% that they 'rarely or never' received food at a suitable time to help them manage their diabetes.

Jonathan Boyce, from the Healthcare Commission, said: "We are pleased the survey results have shown that nearly all people with diabetes are now getting regular check-ups including screening for complications. What we now need is consistency in the help and support offered by the NHS. It is critical that people with diabetes are able to access all the resources and expertise to enable them to manage the care of their diabetes more effectively."

Penny Mordaunt, from charity Diabetes UK, welcomed progress in offering annual check-ups, but expressed concern about the lack of help for patients to manage their own condition, and deficiencies in hospital care. "These are significant issues affecting a huge number of people that can not be ignored."

The findings of the survey have been sent to primary care trusts to enable them to identify areas where services need to improve.

Sue Roberts, national clinical director for diabetes, said standards were rising. But she added: "As this report shows, there is still unacceptable variation in standards, and some patients are still not able to access the education and support they need to manage their diabetes effectively. This survey will not only help local NHS organisations understand where they need to improve, but will also provide an important baseline against which they can measure this improvement."

Nearly 1.9 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes in England. However, it is estimated that another 750,000 people have not been diagnosed, and rates are rising.