Diabetes UK: 20 per cent increase in kidney failure among people with diabetes

Wednesday, 16 June 2010 12:00 AM

Leading health charity Diabetes UK is concerned to hear that between 2003 and 2009 there was a 20 per cent increase in people with diabetes needing dialysis or a kidney transplant, as reported by today's National Diabetes Audit[1].

The audit also reveals a third of people with diabetes did not have their urine tested, which is vital in identifying the early signs of diabetic kidney disease. Half of people with diabetes were found to have not met their blood pressure targets and more than a third were found to have poor blood glucose control, which carries a very high risk of future complications such as kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and amputation. Worryingly, poor blood glucose control was found to be more prevalent in younger people with diabetes.

All people with diabetes should receive nine crucial tests[2] at an annual review of their diabetes management but only a third of people with Type 1 diabetes, and just half of those with Type 2 diabetes, received all the checks, far below NICE[3] recommendations. Once again the situation was worse among younger people with the condition. Of those aged 16 to 39, just 20 per cent with Type 1 diabetes, and 35 per cent with Type 2 diabetes, received all tests.

Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive at Diabetes UK, said: "There is little good news from this latest audit. Well over two thirds of people with Type 1 diabetes and half of people with Type 2 diabetes in England and Wales are missing out on checks that in real terms translate into preventing blindness or lower limb loss, and extending life expectancy through the prevention of kidney failure, stroke and heart disease. More worrying is that these figures are worse for young people.

"While we acknowledge some improvements have been made, there is an urgent need for the new government to address this unacceptable provision of care and avert a disastrous future health crisis, the economic implications of which would buckle the NHS."

Commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership and managed by The NHS Information Centre, The National Diabetes Audit includes records for over 1.7 million people with diabetes in England and Wales. The full report and executive summary are available at www.ic.nhs.uk/nda

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