ABSTRACT
Diabetes is a condition arising from a reduction in activity or secretion of insulin resulting in raised blood glucose. Persistently high blood glucose levels increase individual risk of vascular problems arising, including coronary artery disease, and eye and kidney damage (NICE 2004a). Owing to the potentially devastating impact of diabetes on individuals and their families (DoH 2001), standard one of the National Service Framework for Diabetes (NSFD) (DoH 2001) requires that health services have strategies in place to reduce the risk of the population developing type 2 diabetes, to reduce associated inequalities and to improve the diagnosis of diabetes. This chapter focuses on those people who have already received a diagnosis and for whom diabetes is a long-term condition.
