3.17a_03 Monitoring Diabetes

Monitoring Diabetes
Session Overview
Description
This session explains how to monitor diabetes in the community and why this should be done, as well as how to prevent and manage complications from diabetes and the support and education available to the patient.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• State the advantages and disadvantages of home glucose monitoring
• List the current guidelines regarding home glucose monitoring
• Describe the routine monitoring that should be undertaken in general practice

4.7 million people in the UK have diabetes and it is estimated that this will rise to over five million by 2025 [1](read details regarding the reference).

During the average 10 minute length of a GP consultation, another five people will have been diagnosed with diabetes in the UK. Estimates indicate that the NHS spends 10 billion pounds a year (10% of its total expenditure) on treating diabetes and diabetic complications [1](read details regarding the reference).

This session looks not only at monitoring blood glucose levels but also the wider monitoring required by patients with diabetes. This is often done in the community by a diverse team of people including the GP, practice nurse, health care assistant, diabetes specialist nurse or doctor, foot health team, retinal screening team and more.