Diabetes Week
During the UK’s Diabetes Week in June, Diabetes UK arranged for 3 MPs to experience life with diabetes, from finger pricking to carb counting. The idea could be organised at any time to raise awareness of the issues faced by people with diabetes who make up a large section of every elected representative’s constituency. Advocacy […]
Are you making use of pharmacists?
Where there is an established network of Community pharmacies, such as in the UK, many peoples’ first contact with their health service is with their local chemist. Increasingly health care managers are trying to encourage people to go to their pharmacy first before seeing a doctor, or visiting a hospital. Pharmacists are well placed to […]
TO THE NEXT LEVEL
CAPTION: The Hon Silvio Grixti MP, Chair of the now Official Parliamentary Working Group for Diabetes. The Maltese Cross-Party Group for Diabetes has taken its status to the next level. Started by two interested MPs who attended a PDGN Forum six years ago, the Maltese All Party Diabetes Group has had a string of advocacy […]
Tech Access In UK “Not Fit For Purpose”
The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) has published a document on access to new technologies for people with diabetes that concludes the current system for reviewing and launching new technology within a health economy is not fit for purpose. The publication, Increasing the Uptake of New Technologies in Diabetes: Recommended Actions, summarises the findings […]
Important Victory for CGM Drivers
Driving regulations for people with diabetes in the UK require those about to go behind the wheel to check their glucose levels with a finger prick blood reading no more than two hours before driving and then again on a break after every two hours of driving. Failure to do can invalidate their compulsory car […]
NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
Pakistan – Concerns that Pakistan’s health Care system might not be able to cope with the global epidemic of diabetes have been expressed by Dr Azok Fazal Pechuho, the country’s health minister. She says Pakistan should not only focus efforts on the prevention of diabetes, but also develop science based natural remedies that can help […]
Rising Autoimmune Numbers
Diabetes is considered to be an autoimmune condition and rising rates of such conditions are costing health care systems more each year. In the UK Connect Immune Research, a coalition of medical research charities, said many autoimmune conditions are becoming more common, with some increasing in incidence by as much as 9% each year. Published […]
PDGN Patron, the Hon Judi Moylan OA reports from Australia on a number of wins with the Government.
The Government has approved funding of over AUS $9 million to rollout a program in schools for children with Type 1 diabetes alongside other announcements in the Australian Government Budget 2018/19 including AUS $125 million for heart and diabetes research. Judi is working as co-chair with Professor Paul Zimmet on the Implementation Reference Group who were […]
Technology Corner: Closed Loop Systems
A Swedish study suggests advanced hybrid closed-loop insulin monitoring and delivery systems are cost-effective for patients with type 1 diabetes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34596879 Also, Children with type 1 diabetes who used an advanced hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system for 1 year achieved an average time in range of 74%, surpassing clinical consensus guidelines, according to European data […]
One in Five Workers With Diabetes Face Discrimination
A study in the UK for Dexcom – the glucose monitoring system manufacturer – found employees with diabetes often feel discriminated against at work with almost a third believing the condition has damaged their career. This is despite the UK having some of the most advanced employment disability legislation in the world. The survey of […]
NEWS IN BRIEF
USA – News from the Senate Diabetes Caucus – http://observerme.com/2018/01/25/a-policy-change-that-will-improve-the-lives-of-millions-with-diabetes/ India – UK consultant Dr Partha Kar wonders: ‘Will the digital age bring about a change in diabetes care in India’ https://www.telegraphindia.com/science/on-a-sweet-note-192483 United Kingdom – URL https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Professionals/News-updates/APPG-for-diabetes-report-on-the-Future-of-Inpatient-Diabetes-Care Malaysia – Obesity among Asia-Pacific kids a growing health crisis http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/04/09/researchers-obesity-among-asia-pacific-kids-a-growing-health-crisis/ France – The French Federation of Diabetics […]
John Bowis OBE – New Board Member and Trustee
PDGN is pleased to welcome former UK Health Minister and MEP John Bowis OBE to the Board and as a Trustee of PDGN’s charitable arm. John has a most impressive CV of successful health advocacy in the UK and EU. President: Health First Europe; Vice-President, European Health Forum Gastein; Chair Health Advisory Board, GSK; Adviser […]
IMPACT
The European arm of the International Diabetes Federation – IDF Europe – is transforming the ExPAND project into a new initiative called IMPACT. Hopefully the ExPAND toolkit that is a very useful resource for advocates will continue to be available on the IDF website. IMPACT hopes to get the support of policy makers at a […]
WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR WDD?
World Diabetes Day (WDD) has been running annually on November 14 since 1991. It began in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by the illness. In 2006 WWD became an official United Nations Day, and the campaign reaches a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. […]
SUGAR TAXES?
Do sugar taxes change the behaviour of consumers? There is evidence on both sides but one development that is welcomed is how the taxes change the amount of sugar manufacturers add to their products, even those who market zero sugar alternatives. The UK is the latest country to introduce a sugar tax following a long […]
News In Brief
Latest statistics show dramatic variations across the UK, and less than half of those with diabetes achieve UK recommended treatment targets – URL: http://diabetestimes.co.uk/latest-national-diabetes-audit-results-published/ Diabetes has become one of America’s most expensive diseases – URL: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article130487694.html As the diabetes burden rises in India, experts call for a pan-India diabetic policy – URL: http://everylifecounts.ndtv.com/as-diabetesburden-rises-in-indiaexperts-call-for-pan-india-diabetic-policy-10579
Congratulations Florian
PDGN Vice-President Senator Florian Bodog has been appointed Minister of Health in the Romanian Parliament.
IT’S MALTA
The 2018 PDGN Forum is planned for the 11th to the 14th May, 2018, in the European Capital of Culture 2018, Valetta, Malta. Please put the date in your diary now. PDGN will be contacting national diabetes associations to request up to two names of elected representatives who have championed diabetes in their country. PDGN […]
900 Try an Artificial Pancreas
Nearly 900 patients in England with Type 1 diabetes have been given a hybrid closed-loop system (HCL) artificial pancreas in a pilot study to test the effectiveness of the technology. An HCL continually monitors blood glucose and automatically adjusts the amount of insulin that is given through a pump. The trial is being run in […]
Diabetes Risk of 57 Other Chronic Disease
According to the UK’s Guardian newspaper, a recent study found that type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing 57 other health conditions, including cancer, kidney disease and neurodegenerative diseases. Through a comprehensive study focusing on people over the age of 30 with type 2 diabetes, researchers at the University of Cambridge found that these […]