Category Archives: Diabetes

Opticians ‘should offer blood sugar checks’

August 31, 2011   Carers, Diabetes

This would capture people who do not routinely visit their GP, experts say

31 August 2011 Last updated at 00:12

 
 
A finger prick test checks for high blood sugar but does not diagnose diabetes

Opticians should offer blood sugar checks alongside eye tests to help spot patients with undiagnosed diabetes, experts propose.

A simple finger prick blood test in this setting could identify hundreds of thousands of people with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers.

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Diabetes drugs account for 8.4% of the NHS medicines bill

August 25, 2011   Carers, Diabetes

Diabetes drugs costing NHS £725m

 
 Diabetes drugs account for more than eight per cent of the NHS medicines bill and cost 725 million pounds a year

Diabetes drugs account for 8.4% of the NHS medicines bill, costing £725 million a year.

The amount spent in 2010/11 was up 41% on the £513 million spent in 2005/06, when diabetes drugs accounted for 6.6% of the overall budget, and compares to an 11% rise in the overall cost of the NHS drugs bill between the two periods.

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Driving and diabetes

August 20, 2011   Carers, Diabetes

A big concern for people with diabetes

20 August 2011

 

 

Earlier this year the transport minister, Mike Penning MP, announced he intended to bring forward the implementation of an EC Directive for people with diabetes to October 2011.

This would remove the blanket ban for people with diabetes who treat their condition with insulin and allow them to apply for a Group 2 licence, providing they meet strict medical criteria, and can demonstrate they have adequate control of the condition by regular blood glucose monitoring. People with Group 2 vehicle licences who are treated with insulin will also have to undergo an annual independent medical assessment.

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