Postcode lottery on care for diabetic youngsters

Figures indicate there are more than 2,000 youngsters in the region with type 1 diabetes which develops when insulin-producing cells in the body have been destroyed, leaving patients requiring daily insulin injections, diet changes and regular exercise.

Research by the Getting Sorted programme at Leeds Metropolitan University is aiming to develop a model of care to improve the management of children and young people with the condition in England.

Nicky Kime, who led the NHS-funded work, said inconsistencies were uncovered between and within the type 1 diabetes services and that all nine sites in Yorkshire had a different way of working and managing patients.

She said one of the key findings was that young people with the condition needed to be better informed about the process moving from children’s services to those for adults.

She added: “Our research found that some people weren’t even aware that they were in transition, or what it meant.”

The study found that young people and parents received conflicting information from consultants and nurse specialists when attending clinic and from ward staff.

“The UK has the worst rate of type 1 diabetes in Europe and the communication between the young people, parents, paediatric and adult diabetes teams is regarded as essential to improving care,” said Dr Kime.