Diabetes (Hansard, 25 March 2002)

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government have taken to inform people of ways to avoid contracting diabetes. [41326]

§ Jacqui Smith
The risk factors for diabetes include poor diet, physical inactivity and obesity. We are taking forward a wide range of work across Government to reduce obesity, to increase physical activity and improve diet, especially among children. Prevention of diabetes is one of the key areas covered by the diabetes national 777W service framework standards, published in December 2001. Local strategies on promoting healthy eating and physical activity, and reducing overweight and obesity, are also being developed as part of the implementation of the national service framework for coronary heart disease.

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the Department has spent on research into diabetes since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [41322]

§ Jacqui Smith
The Department has consistently supported research into diabetes but has not in the past collected information on its total expenditure in this field. The greater part of the funding has gone to the clinical service support costs of research funded by other agencies such as the Medical Research Council and Diabetes UK. The landmark "UK Prospective Diabetes Study", a randomised multi-centre trial in more than 5,000 patients over 20 years, has been supported in this way and continues. The Department has also funded the direct costs of research through its national and regional research and development programmes.
A joint Department of Health/Medical Research Council research advisory committee on diabetes is currently reviewing this whole field of research, as part of the work to underpin the eventual implementation of the Diabetes National Service Framework.

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is provided to diabetics who are affected by(a) sudden and (b) gradual loss of vision. [41324]

§ Jacqui Smith
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence published a clinical guideline on the early management of and screening for diabetic retinopathy on 5 March, as part of its series on the management of Type II diabetes.

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical practitioners in the NHS are specialised in diabetic detection and treatment. [41323]

§ Jacqui Smith
As at 30 September 2001, there were 23,142 general practitioner unrestricted principals and equivalents in England offering diabetes chronic disease management (CDM).
In addition as at 30 September 2001, there were 987 hospital medical staff working in endocrinology and diabetes mellitus in England, of which 428 were consultants.

§ Mr. Wray
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is made for the(a) early screening and (b) management of diabetes. [41325]

§ Jacqui Smith
Services for the screening and management of diabetes are provided in a variety of health care settings and are of varying quality. There is evidence to show that the onset of Type II diabetes can be delayed, or even prevented, that effective management of diabetes increases life expectancy and reduces the risk of complications, and that self-management is the cornerstone of effective diabetes care. This evidence underpins our development of a national service framework for diabetes, for which we published the standards in December 2001. They set out 12 standards778W covering the prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications. The delivery strategy for the framework will follow later this year.
The diabetes national service framework provides the opportunity to clarify policy on screening for Type II diabetes, and we have requested advice from the UK National Screening Committee. The Committee has decided that further research, which may require some complex studies, is needed to inform its advice. It will report to the Department of Health in 2005.