January: CORE NATIONAL DIABETES AUDIT RESULTS 

The National Diabetes Audit (NDA) 2014-2015 concluded that fewer than two in five (38.7 per cent) of people with type 1 diabetes underwent all of the eight care processes and fewer than three in five (58.7 per cent) of those with type 2 diabetes did so.

February: DIABETES CHILD TRANSITION DOCUMENT PUBLISHED

NHS England published a blueprint for a service which bridges the gap between children and adults services.

The Diabetes Transition Service Specification document sets out a “best practice model and considerations” for commissioners.

March: NATIONAL DIABETES PREVENTION DRIVE LAUNCHED

England’s first type 2 diabetes prevention drive was launched in a bid to help 100,000 people.

The first wave of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) was rolled out in 27 areas this year and will cover the rest of England by 2020.

April: ROWAN HILLSON AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Dr Gerry Rayman and his team were named the winners of the prestigious Rowan Hillson Insulin Safety Award.

May: NSULIN PUMP NETWORK RELAUNCHES

The Insulin Pump Network was relaunched with the support of the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD).

The original Insulin Pump Network was launched in May 2012 under NHS Diabetes, but the organisation closed in 2013 and the network folded shortly after. 

June: AUDIT RESULTS SHOW FOOT ULCER DROP

Foot ulcers acquired during hospital visits decreased by 50 per cent, according to the 2015 results of the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit (NaDIA). 

The latest findings revealed 1.1 per cent of patients with the condition had foot lesions, which had gone down from the 2.2 per cent found in 2010.

July: RISE IN AVOIDABLE DIABETES HOSPITAL VISITS

Hospital admissions for hypos have risen by 39 per cent in the last 10 years, an analysis concluded.

Almost 80,000 people were admitted to hospital in England for hypoglycaemia for a total of 101,475 episodes between 2005 and 2014, a study found.

August: TYPE 1 PEOPLE SHOULD GET STRUCTURED EDUCATION – NICE

Adults with type 1 diabetes should be offered education classes to help them manage their condition, according to NICE. 

The classes, which normally cover diet advice, weight loss, exercise and information about medicines, should be offered when people are diagnosed.

September: SOUTHAMPTON LAUNCHES ‘REVOLUTIONARY’ DIABETES CARE

Healthcare professionals in Southampton spearheaded a pioneering blueprint which will revolutionise care for people with diabetes in hospitals.

Led by Dr Mayank Patel, a consultant in diabetes at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, the innovative scheme provides guidance for all medical and nursing staff on what steps are needed to meet patients’ needs.

October: EXCELLENCE IN DIABETES CARE REWARDED

Innovation in diabetes care was showcased at the sixth annual QiC Diabetes awards.

People working in the diabetes community were praised at the awards ceremony, which took place at Sanofi’s Guildford headquarters on Thursday, October 13.

November: LOW CARB DIET SAVES NHS £4M IN DIABETES COSTS

The support being offered by an online low carb programme has so far saved the NHS £4 million in deprescription costs, it was revealed.

The free Low Carb Program by the UK’s biggest and fastest growing diabetes patient forum Diabetes.co.uk has so far helped more than 170,000 people since it was launched on World Diabetes Day 2015.

December: EXCLUSIVE: NHS ENGLAND INVITES DIABETES FUNDING BIDS

An application process to access £44m to improve diabetes care was opened by NHS England.

Funding is available for structured education, improving the achievement of the NICE recommended treatment targets, introducing new or expand multi-disciplinary footcare teams (MDFTs) as well as setting up or expanding diabetes inpatient specialist nursing services (DISNs). The deadline is January 18.

Our plans for 2017

As well as continuing to deliver a first-class diabetes news service aimed at healthcare professionals, we have got big plans for next year, including:

• Launching a brand new suite of e-learning modules
• A new series of good practice case studies  
• More top names lined up for The Big Interview
• Relaunching our diabetes clinical jobs page

Share your story with us

We want to hear from you! If you're working in diabetes care and have got something to share or are involved in an important initiative, then please get in touch by emailing our editor Oliver Jelley.