Road map for action on diabetes

Diabetes New Zealand warns that diabetes has the potential to cripple New Zealand’s already stretched health systems in a few years and has produced recommendations for government, the healthcare service and support groups in a new report Diabetes in New Zealand: Priorities for Action.

'We all know there is a problem and what we are doing with this report is providing some markers and some potential solutions,' says Diabetes New Zealand president, Mike Smith. 'By working together, we believe government, the health system and groups like ours can make a real difference.'

According to Diabetes New Zealand, serious and integrated action is required by the government. In particular, the Health Committee's Report on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes needs urgent implementation, especially the population-wide recommendations.

'We have identified five priorities for action: awareness, prevention, detection, management and research,' continues Mr Smith. 'Two of the core messages in this report are that Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and that collaboration across sectors and groups is essential to halt the diabetes epidemic.'

Diabetes New Zealand believes the national Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) is a useful framework for improving the care of people with diabetes but its recommendations must be implemented by all stakeholders. The organisation also wants to see better policies and support for people with Type 1 diabetes.

'We represent all people with diabetes and our report is not only concerned with Type 2 diabetes,' says Mr Smith. 'The special health and social needs of people with Type 1 diabetes have been overlooked for too long. We want to see a national register for people with Type 1 diabetes and an improvement in their long-term management.'

Other key recommendations include:

  • ensure strategic assessment of current policies and actions
  • provide funding for coordination of policies and actions
  • implement Health Committee Report on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
  • improve early detection
  • extend the ‘Get Checked’ programme.

To download a pdf of this report, please click here or contact Diabetes New Zealand for a hard copy.

ENDS

Published on this website on Tue, 11 Mar 2008

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