BodSolutions - Little impact of national schemes over diabetics

BodSolutions - National scheme has little impact on diabetics




Control of blood sugar levels in Maori and Pacific diabetics showed little improvement in two years, despite their participation in the national "Get Checked" programme, a new study has found.Auckland University researchers evaluated clinical measures two years apart for nearly 8000 people on the programme, under which diabetics can have a state-funded medical check and care-planning session once a year.

Nearly half of Maori patients and 69 per cent of Pacific patients had poor glycaemic (blood-sugar-level) control at the start of the study period "and only small improvements were made over the two years," the researchers report in the journal Primary Care Diabetes.

"However, there have been questions asked about the impact it has had on patient outcomes."The aim of Get Checked, introduced in 2000, is to minimise the impact of diabetes and its complications - like kidney failure, blindness and limb amputations - by improving management of the disease and screening for related problems.
"Data ... indicates that people are generally not making lifestyle changes or may not be being given the appropriate support or treatment. Better monitoring and audit of the quality of treatment plans and the support provided to patients would help ensure that the plans fulfil their key role."

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