‘Progress made’ in NHS diabetes care

The Department of Health has announced the publication of a new report which shows an improvement in diabetes care on the NHS and a greater focus on prevention of the disease.

It reports earlier identification of the condition in people who were unaware of having the condition, with 60,000 people diagnosed in the past five years.

Furthermore, individuals at risk of contracting the condition have been identified and provided with treatment advice to aid prevention of the disease.

The Putting Prevention First vascular risk programme announced in April is forecast to prevent a further 4,000 patients from developing diabetes every year, the report claims.

Additionally, the Healthy Weight Healthy Lives obesity strategy will further reduce the risk of diabetes in the community by helping people make lifestyle changes.

Ann Keen, health minister, said: “Today’s report shows that the NHS is getting better and better at identifying people with diabetes and at supporting them to manage their condition.”

She added the next stage review of the NHS has made prevention of disease a priority for the health service, with this being especially relevant for discussions of diabetes, whose rising global prevalence is in part caused by rising levels of obesity.

Earlier this month, public health expert Professor David Hunter of Durham University called on government ministers to tackle obesity, describing it as a threat to Britain as grave as terrorism.