A report conducted by Diabetes UK shows concerning number of diabetes sufferers not properly managing the condition
Diabetes UK is calling for improvements to courses aimed to teach people about the condition and give diabetics the skills to effectively manage the disease.
This follows the results of a survey, conducted by the charity, published in a report this month which revealed that a high number of diabetes sufferers in England and Wales are not managing their condition properly.
Poor management of diabetes can lead to a number of health complications such as a heart attack, kidney failure, stroke and amputation.
The report revealed only two percent of people newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and six percent of people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes had attended a diabetes education course to learn how to best manage their condition in 2014-15.
It was also found that only 41 percent of those with Type 2 diabetes and 19 percent of those with Type 1 diabetes are meeting their targets for blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol.
The charity wants improvements to be made to the education courses and their availability so that at least half of people diagnosed with the condition attend courses over the next five years.
According to Diabetes UK, 7,000 diabetes-related amputations are conducted every year in England alone, of which 80 percent could be prevented.
Corrina Mottram, a medical negligence and serious injury solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “Diabetes is a serious and complex condition requiring constant management, sadly Diabetes UK’s report highlights that a staggering percentage of people living with the condition are putting themselves at risk of serious health complications.
“The government has a responsibility to ensure that more diabetics attend courses, by giving the NHS appropriate funding to deliver high-quality sessions that teach the vital skills diabetics need.
“If not treated properly, diabetes is one of the leading causes of lower-limb loss, and at Thompsons we see too many people who have lost a limb when it was actually avoidable. Steps to educate more people about regular check-ups and warning signs of diabetes-related conditions could both save lives and the NHS money.”
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