GOOD NEWS FOR ASIAN DIABETES SUFFERERS
(5th March 2002)

Health Minister, Jacqui Smith delivered good news to Asian Diabetes sufferers today. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued two clinical guidelines for the management of Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. They cover the screening for and management of retinopathy (eye problems) and the prevention and management of renal (kidney) disease.

Diabetes is a serious, complex condition that, as well as resulting in potentially debilitating complications can also increase the risk of developing other illnesses. It is an important health issue in terms of morbidity (affecting around 1.3 million people) and resource use (it has been estimated to consume up to 10% of hospital resources). If not properly managed, diabetes can result in a range of long term complications - heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and foot problems that may lead to amputation.

The Ethnic Health Inequalities Survey last year showed that Asians are more likely to suffer from diabetes and kidney disease than the average UK population.

Welcoming the guidelines, Jacqui Smith said: "I am delighted that NICE has issued these clinical guidelines, which I know have been keenly awaited, and look forward to seeing the remaining three in the series in the Spring. The Type 2 diabetes guidelines will help underpin implementation of the Diabetes National Service Framework."

Also, following publication of the new national standards for diabetes care on 14 December 2001, work is now progressing on the Diabetes National Service Framework (NSF) delivery strategy, which is to be published later this year.

An Implementation Group has been set up to inform the development of the Diabetes NSF delivery strategy. The Group is chaired jointly by Professor Mike Pringle and Dr Sheila Adam, Director of Policy at the Department of Health. Its membership is drawn broadly from people with diabetes and from the medical, nursing and allied health professions. The Implementation Group met for the first time on 30 January. A summary note of the meeting has been posted on the Diabetes NSF website, www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/diabetes.

Diabetes Sufferer? Share your views.

The Implementation Group is keen to receive views on what the Diabetes NSF delivery strategy should look like from people with diabetes and their families, service providers, health care professionals and other interested parties. It has invited comments - via the website - on suggested service models and performance indicators, on practice based registers and on the topic review of diabetes research. The Group can also be contacted by e-mail at diabetes.nsf@doh.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Diabetes NSF, LG01, Department of Health, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG.

Diabetes National Service Framework

The Diabetes NSF standards apply to England only. They are available, with a range of detailed supplementary information, on the Department of Health website: http://www.doh.gov.uk/nsf/diabetes. The material includes suggested service models and performance indicators, thoughts on practice based registers, and details of the current diabetes research topic review being led by the joint Department of Health/Medical Research Council research advisory committee on diabetes. In all of these specific areas, comments have been requested via the website.

Top