Diabetes care in 'state of crisis'

Diabetes care in England is in a "state of crisis" with less than half of people with the condition getting the basic minimum care, a report warns Monday. According to the "State of the Nation 2012 report", published by Diabetes UK, a major charity, there are some areas where just 6 percent of people with diabetes are getting the regular checks and services recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice). The report details how not getting these checks has helped fuel a rise in rates of diabetes-related complications such as amputation, blindness, kidney failure and stroke. These complications account for about 80 percent of the health authorities spending on diabetes and are one of the main reasons that treating diabetes costs about 10 percent of the entire state-funded the National Health Service (NHS) budget, Diabetes UK said. The report also shows that a National Service Framework for diabetes - setting out the healthcare which diabetes patients should get - has been in place for 11 years but has not become a reality. Diabetes UK is calling on the Government to urgently deliver a plan to implement these standards. Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said "We already know that diabetes is costing the NHS a colossal amount of money, but this report shows how in exchange for this investment we are getting second rate healthcare that is putting people with diabetes at increased risk of tragic complications and early death. "Whether showing the number of children with Type 1 diabetes who are only diagnosed at accident and emergency or highlighting the thousands of preventable diabetes-related amputations performed every year, the report shows that diabetes healthcare has drifted into a state of crisis. "With the number of people with diabetes rising so rapidly, unless urgent action is taken now, this rising tide threatens to sink the NHS." Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said, "There is still much to be done to help tackle diabetes and root out poor care".