DIABETES ACTION PLAN 2010

DIABETES ACTION PLAN 2010
QUALITY CARE FOR DIABETES IN SCOTLAND
3.13 Quality in-patient care
3.13.1 Safe and effective management of diabetes in hospital
Where we want to be:
We want people with diabetes to be supported wherever possible to live independently
in the community. Diabetes services should be provided locally wherever possible, in
keeping with the ‘Shifting the Balance of Care’ agenda. Where admission to hospital is
unavoidable, we want to harness for people with diabetes the benefits of the work of the
highly successful Scottish Patient Safety Programme, through improvements in knowledge
of diabetes among hospital staff, with an increased commitment to supporting people
with diabetes to self manage where possible.
Why we want to be there:
Diabetes was included in HEAT target T6, in recognition of the fact that people with
diabetes stay an extra two to three days in hospital compared to other conditions,
whatever the diagnosis, and around 10% of people in hospital, at any one time, have
diabetes. Interventions such as foot care in the community, with additional inpatient
support for patients with diabetes, can reduce admissions and bed occupancy for people
with this condition.
THINK GLUCOSE
The Think Glucose Programme was designed by the NHS Institute for
Innovation to improve the management of people with diabetes when they
are admitted to hospital. It achieves this through the introduction of an
awareness campaign as to the importance of glucose control combined
with a system of audits. Think Glucose has reported considerable success
in reducing bed days and diabetic complications at those hospitals in
England where it has been rolled out.
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