Diabetes is Serious Report and Parliamentary launch
Despite the tireless efforts of the NHS many people living with diabetes are still missing out on the vital health checks they need, putting them at risk of serious complications, which can sadly lead to premature death. At the start of this year, more than 13,000 people living with diabetes or caring for someone with diabetes across the UK filled in our survey about their experience during 2022. Diabetes UK have now published the findings for England in their new report, Diabetes care: Is it fair enough?
On 10th May they launched their report in Parliament as part of their Diabetes Is Serious campaign. They have also written to the chair of every ICB in England and the Regional Diabetes Oversight Boards in the North of England, highlighting their report findings and their recommendations for how this care crisis can be tackled. They are calling for:
- A focus on diabetes in the government’s Major Conditions Strategy, including plans to tackle the backlog in diabetes care, reduce health inequalities and provide more support to help people lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- A fresh commitment from the government to implement its stalled obesity strategy in full and without further delay, including restrictions on junk food marketing
- Commitments in the plans of every Integrated Care Board in England to address the backlog in care, inequalities in access to care and to put type 2 diabetes prevention at the heart of their strategies.
There is a handy summary of the report and campaign asks available here.
The hidden cost: cost of living and diabetes
The Diabetes UK new report looks at how the cost of living is impacting people with diabetes, and the long term impact this will have on the UK's health. In November 2022, they conducted a survey of 6,490 people across the UK living with any form of diabetes, or who have been told they are at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes/received a diagnosis of non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (NDH). This survey was a chance to hear how the cost of living is impacting people with and at risk of diabetes, and what effect this is having on how people are managing their diabetes or risk of developing diabetes. They have used this survey to inform a policy report showing the cutbacks and sacrifices that people with and at risk of diabetes are having to make, and how this is making it harder for people to manage their condition right now. They also have a dedicated web page providing information and support for people effected by diabetes and the cost of living crisis.
Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week 22nd to 28th May 2023
In NENC Diabetes UK are working with the ICB communications team and Reed Wellbeing (the local National Diabetes Prevention Programme provider), to raise awareness during t2 diabetes prevention week. Communications will be going out to Trusts, Local Authorities and large employers across the North East and North Cumbria, encouraging them to share information with their staff and through their communications channels about type 2 diabetes risk, our Know Your Risk tool and the diabetes prevention programme.
They will also be sending letters to editors across the region during the week, highlighting their diabetes prevention messaging.
