Major T1D Step Forward in UK
Described as an artificial pancreas, which it is not, a hybrid closed loop system is worn externally to continually monitor a person’s blood glucose then automatically adjust the amount of insulin given to them through a pump. Within England local National Health Service (NHS) systems will start identifying eligible people living with T1D who health chiefs […]
Call for Debate on Diabetes Care
Shropshire Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan has asked the government to allow MPs time for a debate on NHS care for diabetes. This comes after the publication of a report by Diabetes UK showing Shropshire to have the worst care for diabetes patients in the country, with only 25 percent of all patients in the […]
Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait
A call on NHS Highland (Scotland) to “go further and faster” in providing life-changing diabetes technology has been made by Jamie Stone MP (Liberal Democrat). The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP is backing a nationwide “Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait” campaign. He attended an event in parliament hosted by Diabetes UK and Diabetes Scotland and […]
Obesity Debate
Speaking at the first-ever debate on preventing obesity and fatty liver disease in the UK Parliament, London Ealing Southall MP, Virendra Sharma (Labour) said: “[It] is a public health emergency. Liver disease mortality rates are outpacing those for other major conditions, such as diabetes or respiratory conditions.” In addition to fatty liver disease, obesity can […]
Diabetes is Serious Campaign Launch
Chris Green (Conservative) – the MP for Bolton West and Atherton, attended the “Diabetes is Serious” campaign launch in the House of Commons, which included a report revealing how there were 7,000 excess deaths involving the condition last year. Mr Green (left) said: “I was delighted to attend a Diabetes UK Reception to raise awareness […]
Diabetes UK – New Chief Executive
Diabetes UK has appointed Colette Marshall as its new head following the departure of Chris Askew after eight years to take on the role of Chief Executive at the Royal College of General Practitioners. Ms Marshall, pictured right, has been Director of Services, Volunteering and Local Impact at Diabetes UK since 2013. Following her appointment […]
Social Prescribing Gaining Ground
Social prescribing is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing, including healthy food. Following pilot schemes in the UK some U.S. health care providers have been experimenting with the idea. Under “food is medicine” programs, free, […]
Could ‘Zoo Poo’ Help Treat Foot Ulcers?
Researchers from the University of Sheffield, UK, have found that viruses found in the poo of endangered animals could be used to treat diabetic foot ulcers. If successful it could save the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) £1 billion a year. Naturally occurring viruses in the poo – known as bacteriophage or phages – could […]
T1 Screening Reaches N.Ireland
Funded by Diabetes UK and JDRF, ELSA (Early Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes) was first launched in England, Scotland and Wales in November 2022. The study aims to recruit 20,000 children, aged 3-13 years, to assess their risk of developing T1D through at-home finger-prick blood tests. Home testing kits are now available to families throughout Northern Ireland. Around […]
PDGN in Liverpool
PDGN Secretary General, Adrian Sanders, attended the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Liverpool where new research was presented that has pinpointed five unique combinations of genes that either help protect people living with obesity and overweight from developing type 2 diabetes, or increase their risk. There were sessions on the issues facing the care of […]
MPS’ Joint Action
A number of UK Members of Parliament from across the political divide have signed a letter warning that health and social care businesses are facing unprecedented pressures as a result of the pandemic, inflation and the effects of leaving the European Union. The signees call on the Government to protect healthcare supply chains, including a […]
News in Brief
Real Time CGM Recommended for some type 2 Children In the UK, hundreds of children with type 2 diabetes will be offered the choice of two life changing technologies. Children with type 2 diabetes who currently manage their condition with the ‘burdensome’, ‘tiring’, and ‘stressful’ task of finger prick testing several times a day could […]
UK Closer to One in Ten People with Diabetes
Analysis by Diabetes UK has shown the numbers of people living with diabetes in the United Kingdom has topped five million for the first time. The patient advocacy charity is calling on the UK Government to ensure that national and local health care systems put diabetes at the heart of their plans. Diabetes UK want […]
MP Raising Money for Diabetes
James Duddridge, UK MP for Rochford and Southend East, has announced he will run this year’s iconic 26.2-mile race on behalf of Diabetes UK. Each year, Duddridge runs the London Marathon for a different charity. He was was diagnosed with diabetes about five years ago. He takes insulin to manage the condition and monitors his blood glucose […]
More News in Brief: UK Parliamentary Enquiry Launched
Sir George Howarth MP and former Prime Minister Rt. Hon Theresa May MP have launched a new inquiry into eating disorders in type 1 diabetes. Several evidence sessions are currently taking place, with the eventual aim to set out ambitious recommendations to ensure the NHS and healthcare system is better equipped to tackle the complexities […]
More News from Around the World
Put People at Heart of Diabetes Services A briefing by the UK based National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has called for people to be put at the heart of diabetes services. The report brings together a collection of research from the past couple of years which illustrates how taking account of individuals’ needs, differences and wishes […]
More News from Around the World: CGM on Prescription in UK
The Dexcom ONE real-time Continuous Glucose Monitoring (rt-CGM) System is now available to be prescribed across the United Kingdom. The decision follows new guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which recommends adults with type 1 diabetes should be offered a choice of glucose sensor, children should be offered rt-CGM and […]
Social Prescribing Pilots
GPs in parts of England will start prescribing walking and cycling in a trial to help improve mental and physical well-being and tackle health disparities across the UK. The trial runs until 2025 and marks an acceptance that it is not only health budgets that can improve people’s well-being, but a holistic approach across government […]
Research News
USA – Screening for diabetes earlier could reduce racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis, study finds. https://www.phillyvoice.com/diabetes-screening-racial-ethnic-disparities-asian-hispanic-black-diagnosis-study USA – Investigators from the Pediatric Diabetes Center at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone investigated outcomes disparities as they related to diabetes technology use among youth living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). https://www.ajmc.com/view/there-is-more-to-blame-than-tech-for-t1d-outcomes-disparities-investigators-argue Germany – Research suggests […]
Whey Protein and type 2
A UK Newcastle University study suggests Whey protein supplements may help people with Type 2 diabetes. Whey is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained. It is a by-product of the manufacturing of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses. Whey protein contains and incredible range of essential amino acids. Consuming […]
More News in Brief: Event Attracts Media Attention
A very successful event was held by Members of Parliament in the UK who invited constituents with diabetes to enter an art exhibition with entries displayed at the House of Commons. The event generated a great deal of media attention for both the exhibitors and for their Members of Parliament. It formed part of a […]
United Kingdom
Mary Kelly Foy, MP for the UK City of Durham, has thrown her support behind a new campaign by local primary care doctors, Dr Paul Baker and Dr Amanda Porch, to cut the cost of diabetes care for the National Health Service (NHS). The MP whose seat is in the North-East of England, has a […]
COVID Deaths and Diabetes
People with diabetes were almost twice as likely to die with COVID-19 and nearly three times as likely to be critically of severely ill compared to those without the disease, according to a study. Researchers from the University of Aberdeen in the UK reviewed data from hundreds of thousands of people from all over the […]
New member, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, writes exclusively for Global Advocacy Diabetes
We were just 10 days away from the General Election when my GP gave me the shocking diagnosis that I had Type 1 diabetes. I was told that my ketones – the chemical that can build up in diabetes – were “off the Richter scale”, and I needed to be admitted to hospital straight away. […]
PDGN News: Thanks Guy
PDGN President Guy Barnett has stepped down from the role he was elected to in 2015 to concentrate on his Ministerial responsibilities in the Tasmanian Parliament. He was appointed to the Cabinet in 2016 and is now Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Resources, Minister for Trade, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for […]
Scotland Rolls Out Check Test on Type 1 Patients
Misdiagnosed type 1 diabetes patients could be freed from the need to take insulin after a new test is rolled out. Scotland will become the first country to offer the C-peptide blood test to all patients who have had a type 1 diagnosis for at least three years. There are about 315,000 people living with […]
Nutrition Concerns Expressed
UK Members of Parliament on a House of Commons Select Sub-Committee have welcomed a positive review of the UK foreign aid programme’s work on nutrition. But they raised questions about whether those achievements can endure, particularly as the review predicted the Covid-19 pandemic would cause a “huge increase in the number of people facing hunger […]
Artificial Pancreas for NHS Patients
NHS England and NHS Improvement has recently announced plans for a new drive to revolutionise the lives of people with Type 1 diabetes, through provision of stateof-the-art artificial pancreas technology, 100 years after the discovery of insulin. Hybrid closed-loop (HCL) insulin delivery systems automatically balance blood sugar levels by constantly measuring glucose and delivering insulin […]
Research News
Singapore research finds surgery for type 2 diabetes may restore nearly a decade to life expectancy https://www.medwirenews.com/diabetes/surgery-type-2-diabetes-restore-nearly-decade-life-expectancy/19148930 Children with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk for developing neurodevelopment disorders, with the risk greater for those with a high HbA1c, according to a study published in Diabetologia. https://www.healio.com/news/endocrinology/20210316/high-hba1c-in-type-1-diabetes-linked-to-increased-risk-for-neurodevelopment-disorders Austrian/Swiss research finds that consuming moderate amounts […]
Sugar Tax News
Sugar taxes continue to hit the headlines, and whether you have or haven’t advocated for such a measure to try and reduce consumption this study by Rachel Arthur, Elaine Watson, Niamh Michail, Gary Scattergood, Flora Southey takes a look around the globe to at some of the markets where taxes have been introduced or are […]
News From Around the World Continued: Another Disturbing Diabetes Link for Lawmakers to Consider
There is now convincing evidence that type 2 diabetes is associated with increased risk of Parkinson’s Disease. The recently published research from Queen Mary University, London, has not only concluded this but that it may also contribute to faster disease progression in patients with Parkinson’s. Advocacy Action: More proof of the need to take diabetes […]
More News From Around The Globe: Rural Type 2 Awareness Campaign
Protecting the Asset that is You is a Type 2 awareness campaign aimed at farmers and their families in Northern Ireland. The campaign uses health messages and signposting pathways to appropriate services for people who live and work in rural areas, people who are often hard to reach and run a risk of missing opportunities […]
Research Corner
University of Exeter and Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust research revealed at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2020 on-line event, suggests screening could give two years’ extra type 2 diabetes alert. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9143/presentation/1514 The findings from a recent study by a University of Buffalo researcher and others could prove to […]
United Kingdom: COVID-19 Greater Risk Among Asians
The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published a report showing Asian people are up to five times more likely to contract Covid-19 than white people. The research also found that more than half of pregnant women with Covid-19 are from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and warns that BAME communities could […]
First Audit of FreeStyle Libre
The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) have conducted the first national (UK) audit of one of the increasing numbers of glucose monitoring devices. Studying Abbot’s FreeStyle Libre device they found from 10,000 users across 102 UK hospitals that the system improves control and patient awareness of low blood glucose levels. The report also concludes […]
Research Corner
Obesity Risks The study suggests there is a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes by at least 6 times. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200415185837.htm Studies into Diabetes Genes In the largest non-European diabetes genetics study to date that involved 433,540 East Asian individuals from China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and USA, an international team of […]
Scotland: Covid and Diabetes
In the Scottish Parliament, David Stewart MSP made use of his position to ask questions about the correlation between deaths from Covid 19 and people with diabetes. Joe FitzPatrick (SNP), the Minister for Public Health’s reply was: “We know that this is a worrying time for people who live with diabetes. Their safety and the […]
United Kingdom
Body Size Indicator Having a large body size during childhood may increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes in later life, particularly when people remain overweight during adulthood. https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/child-body-size-linked-to-risk-of-heart-disease-and-diabetes-in-later-life New APPG Chair Congratulations to Derek Thomas MP (Conservative, St Ives, Cornwall) the new Chair of the UK Parliament’s All Party Diabetes Group. Derek takes […]
Health Care Disparity Evidence Grows
Appalling disparities in health care have been revealed in several recent studies that the Covid 19 pandemic has magnified. The ‘Center for American Progress (CAP)’ has pulled together research from across the USA showing that it is home to stark and persistent racial disparities in health coverage, chronic health conditions, mental health, and mortality. The […]
When Two Pandemics Collide
Evidence is growing that people with an underlying condition of diabetes are the most at risk of death from Covid 19 and that 1 in 10 patients die within a week. As the virus has made its way around the world the amount of data and number of studies have grown. They show the mortality […]
Surge in Diabetes-Related Limb amputations
A study published by Diabetes UK records a surge in toe, foot and leg amputations among diabetes patients. New analysis by Diabetes UK found that there were 27,465 lower limb amputations related to diabetes in England from 2015 to 2018, an increase of 18.3% from 2011 to 2014. Its analysis also shows there were hundreds […]
Type 2 Breakthrough Treatment
A “breakthrough” treatment plan for type-2 diabetes has been reported in the British press suggesting that the UK National Health Service (NHS) is keen to adopt a new standard of treatment. The course of treatment consists of a liquid diet of 800 calories to be taken as a soup or shake daily for a period […]
4.8 Million in UK With Diabetes
The number of people living with diabetes reaches 4.8 million, people with type 2 diabetes are 50% more likely to die prematurely and Diabetes UK is urgently calling on Government to tackle obesity. New analysis from Diabetes UK shows that 3.9 million people are currently living with a diagnosis of diabetes, and 90% of those with […]
News From Around the World
Morocco The Moroccan Diabetes League celebrated World Diabetes Day in the city of LAAYOUN in southern Morocco. Advocacy Action: Start planning now for World Diabetes Day 14th November 2020. Malta Thanks to campaigning MPs, an €800,000 investment will see 2,000 Type 2 diabetes patients on the Island, who previously paid for their insulin, receive it free […]
Research Corner
Much of the research and studies make for grim reading with the implications for people and health care systems severe. All the more important to seek allies who can share and add force to your advocacy in order to seek improvements to prevention, encourage early diagnosis, and the best treatments. Canadian children not being diagnosed […]
Watching Out for Diabetes!
National Health Service (NHS) England is planning to roll-out a device worn on the wrist to thousands of people who are considered to be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It is part of its Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP), launched in 2016 in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) and the patient group organisation […]
Pharmacists Helping Type 2 Patients go drug free
In our last issue we reported on the role of pharmacists as partners in meeting the challenge of diabetes. The Pharmaceutical Journal reported last month that pharmacists can help patients with Type 2 diabetes adopt a low-carbohydrate diet and reduce their medicines load, but a policy document published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and endorsed […]
Research Corner
Much of the research and studies make for grim reading with the implications for people and health care systems severe. All the more important to seek allies who can share and add force to your advocacy in order to seek improvements to prevention, encourage early diagnosis, and the best treatments. New study by Australian researchers […]
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 […]