A LETTER TO OUR PATIENTS LIVING WITH DIABETES

Today is 14^th November, 2023. It is World Diabetes Day. This year, there is a focus on “equitable access to essential care, including raising awareness of ways people with diabetes can minimize their risk of complications.”  I have joined many others to write a letter to Minister of Health asking her to, “dedicate sufficient resources to improve access to diabetes diagnosis and care in United Kingdom and advocate to ensure Universal Health Coverage worldwide.”  A year ago, I wrote about The Rhema of Diabetes Care

The following are World Health Organisation (WHO) global diabetes coverage targets by 2030:

• 80% of people living with diabetes are diagnosed
• 80% of people with diagnosed diabetes have good control of glycaemia
• 80% of people with diagnosed diabetes have good control of blood pressure
• 60% of people with diabetes of 40 years or older receive statins
• 100% of people with type 1 diabetes have access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring.

Currently, we have 621 patients diagnosed as living with diabetes (about 6% of our practice population). According to the International Diabetic Federation, in United Kingdom, an estimated 3,996,290 people live with the condition – 23% of whom are undiagnosed. This means there may be a number of our patients living with Diabetes who are not aware. Perhaps your family member, neighbour, work colleague or friend is one of them. Please ask them to check their risk score – https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/

Everyone aged 40 years and above (not living with Long Term Condition) is entitled to a five-yearly Health Check in UK. Some people without symptoms are lucky to get diagnosed with Diabetes when they attend this routine check. Has your loved one had a check?

As someone living with Diabetes, your Practice has a commitment to provide great Diabetes care to you. We can only achieve it through a genuine partnership. You do your bit and we do ours.

Your bit:

• Look after yourself:
  1. Healthy eating
  2. Physical activity
  3. Not smoking
  4. No alcohol or in moderation (maximum 14 units per week)
  5. Adequate sleep (7-8 hours daily)
  6. Be happy!
• Help us to help you:
  1. Keep your appointments to see the Nurse, Pharmacist and/or GP when booked
  2. Take your medications as prescribed
  3. Keep Hospital and/or Community Health appointments

Our bit:

1. Have a recall system that ensures you have your Annual invitation for review
2. Carry out the required examinations and tests
3. Provide excellent care that is personalised, based on best evidence with your full participation in the whole process.

We are well aware that some of you have significant barriers which make it difficult for you to ‘do your bit’ and we can signpost you to Social Prescribers and Wellbeing Coaches who will work with you to tackle and overcome those barriers. Some of you are not keen on medication and would rather try lifestyle changes. We are on your side. Many of you following (Type 2 Diabetes) diagnosis have worked really hard and improved your lifestyle, lost weight and seen dramatic improvements in your test results.

We need more opportunities to access physical activity and dietary modifications in our local communities. I am pleased to inform you that we are bringing back Diabetes Group Consultation (both face-to-face and Online) which we had running before Covid-19.

Do let us know if you have any suggestion to help us provide an even better Diabetes service for you.

Kind regards

Dr Abiye Hector-Goma

Abiye Hector-Goma is Senior Partner and Diabetic Lead at Allerton & Westfield Medical Centres, Leeds