Recently I attended Diabetes UK’s State of the Nation event and I backed their calls to tackle the overall rise in Type 2 diabetes and to improve care for all people living with diabetes.

Diabetes is the fastest growing threat of our times. There are 4 million people currently living with the condition in the UK. If their condition is well managed they can live long, fulfilling lives. However, too many are not receiving the care and support they need to help them manage their condition and reduce their risk of developing devastating complications, like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and amputation.

The importance of diabetes education is reflected in its prioritisation in the new NHS England CCG Improvement and Assessment Framework. Diabetes self-management courses, as recommended by NICE, give people the knowledge and the skills they need to take control of their own health. Not only do many of those who have attended a course report dramatic improvements in their quality of life. We need to insure as many people get access to these courses as possible.