Responding to the Department of Health report, Five years on: delivering the diabetes national service framework, which provides an update on the 10 year service framework, Doris-Ann Williams, Director General of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) said:
“BIVDA welcomes this report on the progress of the Diabetes National Service Framework. The framework is a vital mechanism for improving the standards of care for people with diabetes.
“In vitro diagnostic tests are central to the diagnosis and subsequent management of diabetes. Glycated haemoglobin tests (known as HBA1c) measures how well the disease is being controlled over a period of time and there are many other tests which can give early indication of the development of any of the complications that diabetes can cause. The industry is continually striving to produce new tests and develop existing technology to improve the provision of healthcare. Enabling people with long term conditions to have better quality of life is a key element of this.”
"It is vital that people with diabetes are given the necessary education and tools to properly manage their condition. One such tool is self-monitoring of blood glucose levels which helps empower people with diabetes to take control of their own condition. Self-monitoring involves taking a tiny finger prick of blood which is analysed using a pocket-sized testing device.”
“The process is quick and the results are available immediately. By self-monitoring, people with diabetes can check their blood glucose levels in any circumstance, ensuring they have flexibility and freedom in managing their condition. It also minimises the risk of developing acute hypoglycaemia, one of the main day to day concerns of someone living with diabetes. Good self-management can also reduce and delay a number of serious complications associated with diabetes such as kidney disease, retinopathy and cardiovascular disease. ”
“We hope that the Diabetes National Service Framework will continue to have a beneficial impact on the lives of diabetes patients and that self-monitoring remains a central part of this strategy.”
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_087123
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