OVERVIEW

There has been talk in recent years of a 'looming crisis' and a 'time bomb' that has the potential to 'bankrupt the NHS'. But what can be provoking such alarmist comment? The increasingly ageing population? The rise in rates of mental illness? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer is diabetes? It may not have to date attracted as many column inches or sound bites as other health concerns; however, the startling rise in diabetes diagnoses and harrowing future predictions mean that the disease can no longer remain in the shadows of the usual health suspects.

There are 2.5 million people in the UK living with diabetes, with an estimated further 850,000 people who are unaware they have the condition. The cost to the NHS currently stands at £9.8bn (10% of the overall budget), and is set to rise to £16.8bn by 2035 as numbers of patients are expected to rise by 25% in the next five years.

There is much concern from all stakeholders in the fight against this disease that it needs to be given a higher level of priority on both the government and NHS agendas. Baroness Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, has stated that both organisations "do not seem to have grasped the scale of the impending crisis and at the moment we seem to be sleepwalking towards it". There are urgent calls for a national governmental plan to be established.

In 2001, the Department of Health announced the National Service Framework for Diabetes, which set out a vision as to how diabetes services were to be delivered until 2013. This paper recommended nine basic services with regular health checks being a key element. Although there have been improvements over the years, there is still much concern over the inequalities in access and standards of care. A recent National Audit Office analysis has shown that 50% of patients are still not receiving the checks set out in the framework, which are crucial in preventing the development of further complications. As 80% of the diabetes spend is allocated to treating these resulting complications such as stroke, amputations, blindness and kidney disease, investment in health checks will not only make savings in the future, but will also be a crucial element to improve condition management.

Identifying those at risk of developing diabetes and putting in place preventative measures is recognised as a very important step in mitigating future patient numbers. In June 2011, a pharmacy campaign in Wales assessed 17,500 people and results showed that 8.4% are of high risk and 24% have increased risk. NICE recommends that everyone over 40 receives such a health check. As Type 2 accounts for 90% of cases, education into lifestyle and choices can make a substantial contribution in preventing the onset of diabetes. Warning of the dangers of the condition and encouraging people to eat well and take more exercise can play a significant role in slowing down the numbers developing the condition.

At Diabetes: A Call for Action, the key concerns surrounding diabetes will be addressed and discussed. The audience will hear from a line-up of expert speakers and have the opportunity to debate as to which policies and strategies should be recommended to government and how to apply in healthcare and beyond. Delegates will learn of examples of best practice and stories of success that can benefit their own organisations and, most importantly, their patients.