News Diabetes Care improves but patients still missing out on key tests | Diabetes Care improves but patients still missing out on key tests |
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NICE recommends 9 key tests for diabetes care. However according to the latest figures from the National Diabetes Audit, thousands are still missing out on the essential tests. These tests include measurements of weight, blood pressure, smoking status, a marker for blood glucose called HbA1c, urinary albumin, serum creatinine, cholesterol, and tests to assess whether the eyes and feet have been damaged by diabetes. These tests are essential to ensure that diabetes is controlled.
The National Diabetes Audit, which looks at the records of over 1.7 million people with diabetes in England and Wales, found that just over half of patients with type-2 diabetes and a third of patients with type-1 diabetes received all nine tests in 2008/9.The Audit also found that social deprivation does not affect the likelihood of all the care processes being completed. However, ethnicity and age does have an effect, with younger people receiving the tests less frequently. Dr Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, agreed that more work is needed to improve diabetes care. All patients should receive the nine crucial tests from their GP at an annual review of their diabetes management."Well over two thirds of people with type-1 diabetes and half of people with type-2 diabetes in England and Wales are missing out on checks that in real terms translate into preventing blindness or lower limb loss, and extending life expectancy through the prevention of kidney failure, stroke and heart disease. More worrying is that these figures are worse for young people", he said. Regular and timely visits with healthcare professionals are key to the care and management of diabetes. RioMed the creators of Cellma took this into consideration when designing their diabetes health information system. Apart from containing fully customizable assessments, equipped with lifestyle sections to account for non-medical factors which may contribute to disease control, Cellma also facilitates patient communication. This feature allows healthcare professionals to send letters, emails or text reminders to their patients, to ensure that they remember their follow up appointments. In turn, DNAs are reduced, benefitting healthcare services financially, and optimizing the quality of care received by patients. For more information: Diabetes Care Improves but Patients still missing out on Key Tests. However, for further information or to set up a demonstration please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |