There are currently 17.5 million people in the UK who have a long-term health condition[iii]. The cost of caring for the complications associated with these conditions is rising, and with diabetes alone it is around £1 billion every year[iv]. Many complications are caused through poor self-management, which could be avoided if the patient was able to take advantage of the information, support and technologies that are available to them, such as education packs, monitoring systems, support groups and training courses[v].
Diabetes UK reports that only six per cent of their patient members undertook associated training available to them in support of their self-management in 2005.[vi]
With a burgeoning body of evidence pointing to the importance of blood glucose self-monitoring[vii], awareness of the available support is growing but could always be greater. One such study[viii] reviewed by Debbie Hicks, Nurse Consultant in Diabetes, showed a close association between self-monitoring of Type 2 diabetes with reducing serious complications (such as heart attack, stroke, blindness and amputation), and improved life expectancy.
The drive to raise awareness and access to information and education on the role of self-management is crucial considering that people with diabetes spend 8,757 hours a year self-managing their condition, compared to only three hours a year with a healthcare professional[ix].
Debbie Hicks said: "It is positive news that the concept of self-management is being embraced by the public, but it is clear that many people with diabetes are struggling as they fail to achieve good self-management. There is a wealth of support out there such as blood glucose monitoring systems and education packs, yet we need to raise greater awareness of their availability and encourage people to take advantage of them as appropriate. Speaking to a healthcare professional is one such way of sourcing this information."
With over 30 years' experience of diabetes care, Roche Diagnostics leads the way in providing innovative solutions and support tools for patients and their Healthcare Professionals to make living with diabetes easier. Through its range of Accu-Chek blood glucose monitoring devices, data management tools and insulin delivery systems, Roche is helping patients and HCPs to collect, analyse and act on information, and achieve greater control. To complete the circle of care, Roche also provides a 365 days a year Accu-Chek Customer Care Line for additional patient support[x]. Roche Diagnostics is also committed to supporting patient access to blood glucose test strips, a crucial element in self-monitoring, and has produced in conjunction with the UK Association for Diabetes Specialist Nurses an information pack for people with diabetes[xi].
In conclusion Debbie Hicks said: "Successful patient self-management is vital and requires a potent mix of the correct treatment, usage of monitoring systems and good professional education and support. I welcome the fact that Roche is helping to raise awareness of this." |
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About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is a world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of drugs for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2006 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 33.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 75,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai Roche's Diagnostics Division offers a uniquely broad product portfolio and supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide. For further information, please visit our website http://www.roche.com.
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[i] TNS Survey conducted April 2007 amongst 1,001 UK adults age 16+
[ii] Diabetes UK. Diabetes: State of the Nation 2007. London: Diabetes UK 2007
[iii] Department of Health - Support for People with Long-Term Conditions (Chronic Disease Management) 2005
[iv] National Diabetes Strategic Programme Board, Wanless Report 2002
[v] All Primary Care Organisations in England and Wales must, by law, provide people with diabetes with structured patient education (Nice Guidance on the use of patient-education models for diabetes. Technology Appraisal number 60); Accu-Chek patient information packs from Roche Diagnostics (available from the Accu-Chek® Customer Care Line - 0800 701 000 (UK); Diabetes UK has over 400 support groups across the UK. Call the Diabetes UK Volunteer Development team on 020 7424 1000 or email voluntarygroups@diabetes.org.uk to find nearest support group
[vi] Diabetes UK. Heartache Report 2007
[vii] Diabetes Control and Complications Trial on Type 1 diabetes (New England Journal of Medicine, 329(14), September 30, 1993); Martin S, Schneider B, Heinemann L, Lodwig V, Kurth H-J, Kolb H, Scherbaum W A: Self-monitoring of blood glucose in Type 2 diabetes and long-term outcome: an epidemiological cohort study. Diabetologia (2006) 49: 271-278; Hicks D (2005). Is it worth monitoring blood glucose levels in Type 2 diabetes? Journal of Diabetes Nursing; Vol 9: 369-372; Welschen L, Bloemendal E, Nijpels G et al (2005). Self-monitoring of blood glucose in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who are not using insulin. The Cochrane Library 2005, Issue 4;
[viii] Martin S, Schneider B, Heinemann L, Lodwig V, Kurth H-J, Kolb H, Scherbaum W A: Self-monitoring of blood glucose in Type 2 diabetes and long-term outcome: an epidemiological cohort study. Diabetologia (2006) 49: 271-278
[ix] Department of Health - Working together for better diabetes care (May 2007)
[x] Accu-Chek® Customer Care Line - 0800 701 000 (UK)
[xi] To receive a copy of the information pack, please contact the Accu-Chek® Customer Care Line - 0800 701 000 (UK)
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