New action plan identifies key priorities for diabetes care in the UK

Unmet needs in diabetes care highlighted in DAWN2™ study

A new action plan announced today by Novo Nordisk and collaborative partners at the Diabetes UK conference has identified improved self-management, structured education and psychological support as key priorities for diabetes care in the UK.

The plan proposes innovative tools and resources for people living with and caring for diabetes, as part of a three-year programme to improve person-centred care. In the first phase of the programme, these will include a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) tool, materials to support access to structured education, an interactive care planning tool and an educational programme to improve the awareness and management of hypoglycaemia.

The action plan has been developed by an independent, multidisciplinary steering committee including Diabetes UK, in response to the findings of the DAWN2™ global study of 15,000 people in 17 countries, including 900 people with diabetes, family members, carers and healthcare professionals in the UK. The study findings, presented at this week’s Diabetes UK conference, reveal worrying gaps in psychological support, structured education, a communication disconnect between healthcare professionals and patients around treatment goals, and considerable fear of hypoglycaemia among people with diabetes and their families in the UK.

Highlights of these data include:

• People with diabetes worry most about their weight (63%), hypoglycaemia (37%) and nocturnal hypoglycaemia (31%)
• 26% of people with diabetes experience diabetes-related distress
• 13% of people with diabetes have been discriminated against because of their condition
• 80% of specialists, nurses and dieticians and 53% of GPs recognise a major need for improved psychosocial support services
• 41% of people with diabetes report that their healthcare team listen to how they would like to do things; however, 81% of healthcare professionals reported that they have done so
• Only 14% of healthcare professionals say that all their patients with diabetes are offered structured diabetes education classes
• 39% of family members feel frustrated because they do not know how best to help their relative with diabetes
• 59% of healthcare professionals believe that family members play a vital role in good diabetes care

Dr Neil Munro, Associate Specialist in Diabetes at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, DAWN2™ study lead and steering committee member, said: “DAWN2 data clearly shows the need for improved structured education and support to help people with diabetes be more involved in their care plans. A collaborative approach is the only way to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people with diabetes in the UK”.

Katharine Barnard, Associate Professor and Chartered Health Psychologist at the University of Southampton and DAWN2™ steering committee member, said: "DAWN2 provides strong evidence of the psychosocial burden of diabetes, which affects both people with diabetes and family members alike. There is a clear need for improved psychological and psychosocial resources if we are to effectively support optimal self-management for people living with diabetes".

Simon O’Neill, Director of Health Intelligence at Diabetes UK and DAWN2™ steering committee member, said: “Diabetes is reaching epidemic rates and the burden of this serious condition is only set to grow. We have come a long way in terms of diabetes care in the UK, but there remain unmet needs. The DAWN2 Action Plan mirrors many of our own objectives as an organisation and importantly recognises that multi-disciplinary partnership is key to success in overcoming these challenges”.