Recently I had a discussion with Diabetes UK to talk about their Diabetes Is Serious campaign (report here), and how only 57.47% of people in Norwich North who are diagnosed with diabetes are receiving all of their 8 care processes.
I recognise that these screenings are highly valuable in ensuring individuals effectively manage their diabetes and detect any potential complications. This not only safeguards their well-being but also conserves valuable resources for the NHS by identifying issues early on and warding off more severe complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, vision impairment, and limb amputation.
The NHS is facing significant challenges, necessitating actions to address the care backlog and assist frontline healthcare teams in restoring vital services. Despite the NHS’s hard work, the report published by Diabetes UK shows that many individuals with diabetes are not receiving essential health checks, increasing their risk of severe complications and early death.
In 2019, the NHS allocated a minimum of £10 billion annually to address diabetes throughout the UK, representing 10% of its budget. Taking action to combat the prevalence of major illnesses has the potential to alleviate some of the financial strains on the NHS and social care services, as improved prevention efforts can free up substantial funds for other NHS services.
Crucially, we must also observe the impact of poor health on individuals. Developing one or more major illnesses undoubtedly has significant repercussions on an individual's life, as well as on their family and friends. Nearly half of adults living with one or more chronic conditions rated their overall health as fair, poor, or very poor (47%), in contrast to only 8% among those without any longstanding conditions.
Yes. I agree. Diabetes is Serious…
On a global scale, the number of adults living with diabetes was approximately 108 million in 1980, and by 2014, this number had nearly quadrupled to 422 million adults. The worldwide prevalence of diabetes increased from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014, primarily driven by the surge in Type 2 diabetes, which is thought to make up 90% of all diabetes cases in the UK. The escalating epidemic of overweight and obesity is a significant factor contributing to the rise of Type 2 diabetes.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), diabetes ranked as the sixth leading cause of death globally in 2015. In 2015, there were around 1.6 million deaths attributed to diabetes, including fatalities from complications and other illnesses stemming from high blood sugar levels.
I fully support the Government’s Major Conditions Strategy, and I support an emphasis on enhancing diabetes care to help all individuals with diabetes maintain good health, decrease the incidence of severe complications, and diminish inequalities.
I also support Public Health campaigns such as the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme which has a joint commitment from PHE, NHS England and Diabetes UK. The Programme, launched in 2015, delivers evidence based behavioural interventions at scale for individuals identified as being at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
This page will continue to be updated as new research and reports reach my desk.
Helpful Links:
https://preventing-diabetes.co.uk/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetes/
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/40840/Diabetes-services
