Robin Ellis

Today is World Diabetes Day–-celebrated on the birthday of Dr Banting one of the team that discovered INSULIN–and Diabetes UK are calling on people with diabetes to take action on the 15 measures of care…and spread the word:

Please pass the checklist on to any family members, friends and colleagues who may have the condition to help us ensure the 2.9 million people with diabetes in the UK receive the care they need to stay healthy.

1

Get your blood glucose levels measured.

You should have an annual HbA1c blood test to measure your overall blood glucose control.

2

Have your blood pressure measured.

You should have your blood pressure taken and recorded at least once a year.

3

Have your blood fats (cholesterol) measured.

You should have an annual blood test to measure your cholesterol level.

4

Have your eyes looked at.

You have the right to have your eyes screened for signs of retinopathy every year.

5

Have your legs and feet checked.

The skin, circulation and nerve supply of your legs and feet should be examined annually.

6

Have your kidney functions monitored.

You should have two tests for your kidneys each year.

A urine test checks for protein – a sign of possible kidney problems – and a blood test measuring the rate at which blood is filtered by the kidneys.

7

Have your weight checked.

You should be weighed and have your waist measured to see if you need to lose weight.

8

Get support if you are a smoker.

You should receive advice and support on how to quit.

Having diabetes already puts people at increased risk of heart disease and stroke and smoking further increases this risk.

9

Receive care planning to meet your individual needs.

You live with diabetes every day so you should have a say about every aspect of

your care.

10

Attend an education course.

You should have the chance to attend an education course to help you understand and manage diabetes. There are courses for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, such as DAFNE, DESMOND, X-PERT

and DYFFD.

11

Receive paediatric care if you are a child or young person.

You should get care from specialist diabetes paediatric healthcare professionals. When

the time comes to leave paediatric care, you should know exactly what to

expect so you have a smooth change over to adult health services.

12

Receive high quality care if admitted to hospital.

If you have to stay in hospital, you should still continue to receive high quality diabetes care from

specialist diabetes healthcare professionals, regardless of whether you have been admitted due to your diabetes or not.

13

Get information and specialist care if you are planning to have a baby.

Having a baby means that your diabetes control has to be a lot tighter and

monitored very closely.

14

See specialist diabetes healthcare professionals.

Diabetes affects different parts of the body.

To help you manage your diabetes, you may need to see or be referred to specialist professionals such as an ophthalmologist, podiatrist or dietitian. Diabetes UK believes that you should have the opportunity to see a specialist if and when the need arises.

15

Get emotional and psychological support.

Being diagnosed and living with diabetes can be difficult. You should be able to talk about your issues and concerns with specialist healthcare professionals. Being happy as well as healthy is really important.