Thanks for your contributions thus far.
Just to clarify, there are 15 checks/services that you should have access to:
1 Get your blood glucose levels measured at least once a year. An HbA1c
blood test will measure your overall blood glucose control and help you and your
diabetes healthcare team set your own target.
2 Have your blood pressure measured and recorded at least once a year,
and set a personal target that is right for you.
3 Have your blood fats (cholesterol) measured every year. Like blood
glucose levels and blood pressure, you should have your own target that is
realistic and achievable.
4 Have your eyes screened for signs of retinopathy every year. Using a
specialised digital camera, a photo of each eye will be taken and examined by
a specialist who will look for any changes to your retina (the seeing part at the
back of your eye).
5 Have your feet checked – the skin, circulation and nerve supply of your
feet should be examined annually. You should be told if you have any risk of
foot problems, how serious they are and if you will be referred to a specialist
podiatrist or specialist foot clinic.
6 Have your kidney function monitored annually. You should have two
tests for your kidneys: urine test for protein (a sign of possible kidney problems)
and a blood test to measure kidney function.
7 Have your weight checked and have your waist measured to see if you
need to lose weight.
8 Get support if you are a smoker including advice and support on how to
quit. Having diabetes already puts people at increased risk of heart disease
and stroke, and smoking further increases this risk.
The care you should receive:
9 Receive care planning to meet your individual needs – you live with
diabetes every day so you should have a say in every aspect of your care. Your
yearly care plan should be agreed as a result of a discussion between you and
your diabetes healthcare team, where you talk about your individual needs and
set targets.*
10 Attend an education course to help you understand and manage your
diabetes. You should be offered and have the opportunity to attend courses in
your local area.
11 Receive paediatric care if you are a child or young person. You
should receive care from specialist diabetes paediatric healthcare
professionals. When the time comes to leave paediatric care, you should know
exactly what to expect so you have a smooth change over to adult health
services.
12 Receive high quality care if admitted to hospital. If you have to stay
in hospital, you should still continue to receive high-quality diabetes care from
specialist diabetes healthcare professionals, regardless of whether you have
been admitted due to your diabetes or not.
13 Get information and specialist care if you are planning to have a
baby as your diabetes control has to be a lot tighter and monitored very
closely. You should expect care and support from specialist healthcare
professionals at every stage from preconception to post-natal care.
14 See specialist diabetes healthcare professionals to help you manage
your diabetes. Diabetes affects different parts of the body and you should have
the opportunity to see specialist professionals such as an ophthalmologist,
podiatrist or dietitian.
15 Get emotional and psychological support. Being diagnosed with
diabetes and living with a long term condition can be difficult. You should be
able to talk about your issues and concerns with specialist healthcare
professionals.
Checks and services for children:
Children should receive more frequent HbA1c
measurements and regular weight, height and general health checks from their
healthcare team. Formal screening for complications generally begin at age 12.
Please post if you haven't had access to any one of these (and thankyou -- do please include your postcode -- if there is indeed a postcode lottery, we need to know how it works!).
