Information prescriptions for poorly controlled diabetes

Diabetics with poor control of their condition could be given “information prescriptions” by their GP to improve their health.
What are information prescriptions?
Information prescriptions are being launched after successful trials in London and Yorkshire, which involves A4 printouts being given to diabetes patients listing lifestyle changes they could make.
The scheme is being launched by Diabetes UK, in partnership with the NHS, who report that only 36 per cent of people with diabetes meet blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels targets.
If, during a meeting with their GP, it is found a patient with diabetes is not meeting their blood glucose target, or another target, an alert will flash up on the GP’s computer.
This alert will inform the GP that the patients could benefit from a prescription consisting of detailed diabetes management advice.
“Patients really like those green pieces of paper that we give them,” said Dr Farooq Ahmad, a GP at a practice in Colliers Wood in South London. “Hopefully when they go home they’ll read it. Patients who actually ‘own’ their own illnesses and are pro-active tend to do better.”
Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, explained this scheme will enhance self-management of diabetes, which is essential considering people with diabetes will only see their GP for a couple of hours a year.
“Our ultimate goal is for people with diabetes to live as long and as healthy lives as possible, and information prescriptions will be an incredibly powerful tool to help them achieve this,” said Young.