Diabetics across south Warwickshire becoming more independent - The Stratford Observer

Diabetics across south Warwickshire becoming more independent

Stratford Editorial 28th Aug, 2016 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

MANY diabetic patients across south Warwickshire have been taken off medication or taught to inject themselves in a bid to better manage nurses’ time.

South Warwickshire Foundation Trust (SWFT) – which runs community health teams – cut down on the number of visits in response to a review revealing more than 30 per cent of nurse visits were to administer insulin.

Over a five month period last year, 29,000 visits were to 198 type 2 diabetic patients, who are given the drug to control their blood sugar levels.

But by reviewing the needs of those who receive the service, the trust managed to stop nurses visiting a total of 46 patients, either by taking them off the drug or teaching them to inject or manage the condition themselves.




A trust spokeswoman said: “To support patients manage their conditions efficiently and effectively, we undertook a full review of diabetic patients to identify how self-management could be implemented.

“Patients’ are now assessed on an individual basis to ensure they are able to self-administer insulin or where appropriate discontinue treatment with insulin.”


All new patients will now be assessed on whether they need a nurse to help them manage their insulin and whether they should even be on the drug.

The trust spokeswoman added: “This approach has provided the opportunity to teach self-administration, enabling patients to manage their conditions and reduce dependency. As well as working with existing patients, all new referrals will now follow this process and the diabetes nurse shares the information with GPs, other care providers and family.”

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