System-wide strategies for better diabetes care chapter 1: Evidence approved medicines (13 May 2024)

Summary

This report from Public Policy Projects (PPP) calls for changes in the use of approved medicines to improve diabetes care in the UK. It is the first in a series looking at specific areas of diabetes care in the UK.

Content

Key findings

• Clinical inertia is slowing the use of medicines proven to improve outcomes for people with diabetes. Policy makers must use every available lever to encourage the use of medication that prevents complications such as heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Clinicians suggest a ‘Cardio-renal-metabolic’ outcomes bundle could be added to GP incentives to help increase uptake.
• Healthcare systems must employ population health management tools and technology to identify people at risk of diabetes, as well as those with unmanaged diabetes, to intervene early with lifestyle plans and using preventative medicines.
• There are vast inequalities in diabetes outcomes and this is compounded by stigma which impacts self-management of diabetes. There is a need to reconsider traditional healthcare models to reach underserved communities. Within diabetes using those embedded in communities such as community pharmacists and ‘Experts by Experience’ could break through some socio-economic barriers’ that prevent access to healthcare.