Older patients with diabetes are more likely to have achieved treatment targets, the National Diabetes Audit 2015/16 has found.
The Audit, published by Diabetes UK and NHS Digital, found that older people are more likely than younger to achieve all three recommended treatment targets. In patients with type 2 diabetes 46% of people aged 65 to 79 achieved all three targets compared with 27% of people aged under 40. For those with type 1 diabetes, 24% of people aged 65 to 79 achieved treatment targets in comparison to 18% for those aged under 40. The audit also found that patients with type 1 diabetes are less likely to have completed their targets, with 40% of people with type 2 achieving all three targets compared to only 18% of people with type 1.
‘At the moment people with type 1 diabetes and younger people are clearly struggling the most when it comes to achieving these targets and we particularly want to see more done to support them, such as ensuring they attend structured education, are offered psychological support and proper care planning, all of which will give them the best tools to help them control their condition,’ said Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK.
The Audit also observed that the overall proportion of people with diabetes receiving all eight NICE-recommended care processes has fallen from 45% in 2013 to 37% in 2016. More positively, the audit observed a huge rise in patients offered education about their condition, rising from 10% in 2009 to 82% in 2016. ‘Achieving treatment targets is absolutely vital when it comes to staying healthy with diabetes, as doing so helps people reduce their risk of developing serious and life-threatening complications,’ added Mr Askew.