The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7247 p604
3 May 2003

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Diabetes care should be concordant

People with diabetes must play an active part in the management of their condition but need support and access to information, according to Diabetes UK.

"Diabetes: power to the people", a report published by the charity this week, calls on the National Health Service to provide education for people with diabetes. "It is not enough to tell people what they should do. They must know why and be part of the decision-making process," the report states.

The report suggests that poor education is leading to poor decision making. It highlights the fact that only one in three people with type 2 diabetes take all their tablets. Furthermore, 13 per cent of people receive no explanation of diabetes at the time of their diagnosis and one in five receives no written information.

Diabetes UK recognises that patients must take responsibility for managing their condition. "People with diabetes must be willing to seek out information and demand the services they need and are entitled to. They cannot afford to just wait for their needs to be met. Empowerment is a two way street," the report says.

Diabetes UK recognises the role that can be played by pharmacists in helping patients manage their diabetes. Natasha Ede, diabetes care adviser at Diabetes UK, said: "Pharmacists can talk to people about blood glucose meters and insulin delivery devices. They may see patients with diabetes more often than other health care professionals so will be in an ideal position to remind patients to follow advice given by their health care team, such as healthy eating, blood glucose testing and taking regular exercise."

She added that pharmacists should encourage patients to keep their appointments for diabetes check ups.

Irene Gummerson, a pharmacist with a special interest in diabetes, pointed out that pharmacists can help people with diabetes either opportunistically or in a more structured way. She suggested that when a newly diagnosed patient presents their first prescription for glucose test strips pharmacists can spend time explaining how the test works and ask if the patient has any questions about their condition. "This establishes the pharmacist as a useful ally for the future," she said.

Pharmacists or trained pharmacy staff can also offer opportunistic advice during the sale of blood glucose monitors. "This is a good opportunity, not only to discuss recording results and presenting them at clinic appointments, but also for the patient to ask for advice if they have been getting unusual results."

Mrs Gummerson added that medication review and diabetes medication clinics were areas where pharmacists could contribute in a more structured way. "Pharmacists running diabetes medication clinics have an ideal opportunity to help motivate patients to better self care, to encourage an inquiring attitude and to point them in the direction of patient organisations," she said.