From 1st March 2000, we have been allowed to prescribe certain items listed below. Whilst we welcomed this overdue change in the regulations, we are concerned that the government has provided no extra funding. These items will therefore reduce health care funds available for other conditions.  

Available items are:

Reusable pens: Owen Mumford’s Autopen, Becton Dickinson’s BD pen and Novo Nordisk’s Novopen.

Needles for any manufacturer’s pens including disposable pens are available. Other pen manufacturers will hopefully be added shortly.

Diabetes can cause blindness.

Fortunately this can be prevented by early treatment and as diabetics are eligible for free eye tests there is no financial reason not to have their eyes tested. These eye tests are not limited to deciding whether you need glasses as the back of the eye also reveals information about several health problems. This is particularly important for diabetics who should have an annual eye check.

The Local Optometrist Committee has agreed a joint project with the Health Authority and some optometrists (the new term for ophthalmic opticians) have joined the scheme. When you make your appointment with one of these optometrists, you should say that you are a diabetic taking part in the eye screening project and also specify the name of the optometrist you wish to test your eyes. Click here for the Lichfield list.

Blindness alert for diabetics

Source: Daily Telegraph  Date: 13/04/2004
Report: One in 12 diabetes sufferers over the age of 40 has an eye condition that can cause blindness according to a US study. 1.4 million people in Britain suffer from diabetes which is three in every 100, plus a further estimated million who are undiagnosed. The new research suggests that many may also have undetected eye problems. Rates of diabetic retinopathy are 40.3 per cent in people over 40 and 3.4 per cent when the condition is advanced enough to threaten sight.

At last - diabetics get a needle-free injection

Source: Daily Mail Date: 06/07/2004
A new needle-free device used by diabetics to inject insulin is now available on the NHS. The device was developed by The Medical House and works by using spring-power to create a fine stream of insulin, which is forced through a nozzle placed against the skin. Users feel a slight warming of the skin caused by the friction of the insulin going through. Three out of four people who have tried the device prefer the idea of a needle-free system.