Today is World Diabetes Day. It's a global campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) with activity taking place around the world to raise awareness of how serious the disease is. This means knowing, for example that in the UK diabetes:
- kills 65 people every single day.
- causes blindness and kidney disease.
- that every week it causes:
1400 cases of heart failure
540 strokes
140 lower limb amputations
It is possible to avoid, or at the very least delay complications from diabetes. You can find out more about diabetes complications and what can be done from Diabetes UK here. In the UK, diabetics should get 15 vital checks and services from the NHS every year, which will advise on progress and will spot any signs of complications early.
Knowing how to manage diabetes well is crucial to help avoid developing complications - both now and in the future. World Diabetes Day is not just about raising awareness of the facts; it also aims to raise awareness of how to manage diabetes to prevent complications and how they can support diabetics to do just this.
Getting involved
If you would like to get involved in the planning and organisation of your diabetes service, you can ask at your GP practice about whether there is a user group or patient forum, and find out how you can get in touch.
To learn about becoming involved in your local NHS and diabetes services, sign up to Diabetes Voices. Call on 020 7424 1008, or email diabetesvoices@diabetes.org.uk.
The Diabetes Watch Online Tool has the most up-to-date statistics on how local areas are performing.
Annual care survey
Not everyone is getting their 15 healthcare essentials, and in the 2015 Diabetes Care Survey, people were asked about the care they had received in the last 12 months.
- 76% of people said they haven’t seen any change in the quality of their care over the last 12 months. But, 13% think that their care has got worse, and 11% have seen an improvement.
- 76% of people still aren’t getting the emotional and psychological support they need.
- 46% said they had never been offered a diabetes education course.
- If you don't think you're getting all the care you need, take the checklist to your diabetes healthcare team and discuss it with them.
The IDF Helpline is ready and waiting for you
They know living with diabetes is tough. They know it doesn't give you a day off. They also know how to make life with diabetes a little easier. Their Helpline is staffed by trained counsellors who understand diabetes. They can provide information about the condition, take time to talk things through and explore emotional, social, psychological or practical difficulties.
Call: 0345 123 2399 - Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 7.00 pm
Email: helpline@diabetes.org.uk
If you're in Scotland:
Call: 0141 212 8710 - Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 7.00 pm
Email: helpline.scotland@diabetes.org.uk
Find out more about Helpline Scotland
