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This article originally posted 10 January, 2003 and appeared in Issue 138

Issue 138 Item 5 National 10-Year Diabetes Plan Launched

The UK government last week a new 10-year strategy to tackle diabetes, which includes a promise that by 2007 all diabetics will have eye screening to prevent complications that can lead to blindness.

The diabetes national service framework (NSF), which sets out national standards and performance targets for diabetes care, was widely welcomed by patient lobbyists and doctors and nurses.

Around 1.4 million people in the UK have diagnosed diabetes and another million are thought to have the condition but do not realize it. It is the leading cause of blindness in the UK and it increases the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, amputations and strokes.

The charity Diabetes UK estimates that the health service spends about £5.2bn a year, 9% of the 2000 NHS budget, fighting diabetes and its complications, including heart, kidney and eye disease, strokes and foot problems.

The framework says that by 2006 every person with diabetes, or at risk of developing it, will be offered regular check ups and appropriate treatment by doctors, nurses, and other health professionals to ensure complications are spotted early.

A national clinical director for diabetes will be appointed to oversee the strategy.

The health secretary, Alan Milburn said "We chose diabetes as a NSF because we are determined to improve the quality of care for people with diabetes regardless of where they live or who they are. Our goal is to make the best practice already offered in some places the norm."

The deputy prime minister, John Prescott, who is a diabetic, said: " Most of the time I manage my diabetes myself - like others. The NSF's effectiveness lies in its recognition of this and its commitment to providing patients with the tools they need to manage their own condition."

Professor David Haslam, chair of council of the Royal College of GPs, said: "I was extremely pleased to see the diabetes NSF framework focus on patient empowerment, cultural sensitivity, the importance of community based care, and the value of multi-disciplinary, team-based care.

"I was also particularly encouraged that the framework gives a very clear recognition that an adequate workforce and level of resource is essential if there are to be significant changes in the standard of care”. There are 1.3 million people with diagnosed diabetes in England.

Key elements of the delivery strategy include:

by 2007, every Primary Care Trust will provide eye screening services for all people with diabetes. This will prevent as many as 1,000 people a year from going blind or having their sight impaired;

by 2006 every person with diabetes, or at risk of developing the disease, will be offered regular check-ups and appropriate treatment to ensure any complications are picked up quickly;

local diabetes networks that will include people with diabetes who will champion the views of people affected by this disease and help to set local services and priorities; and

local and national audits to ensure standards are being maintained.