Isle of Man diabetes levels puts pressure on healthcare

Reports from the Isle of Man reveal that the diabetes centre on the island is finding it hard to cope with the increasing number of people with diabetes there, which now amounts to over 3,000 people.
Health chiefs argue that they need to make major changes to how diabetes is treated on the island, and that it is necessary to free up the diabetes centre at the Noble’s Hospital complex in Braddan for only the more complex cases of the metabolic condition. The new strategy, which comes into effect in February next year, will mean that adults who have good diabetic control and fewer complications will be looked after by their doctor instead of at the centre.
People with diabetes on the Isle of Man are divided among the 10 per cent being treated for type 1 diabetes and 90 per cent suffering from type 2 diabetes . The move is intended to speed up the care of those with type 1 diabetes.
Norman MacGregor Edwards, director of health strategy and performance, commented “Over the past year or two the number of diabetics has increased. We cannot cope with the demand at the centre.”
He added “There is going to be no reduction in the resources. We are just trying to use it more effectively. A lot of diabetics are taken care of successfully in the primary care already.”