TV doc calls for more ‘respect’ for diabetes

People with diabetes are not getting the “respect they deserve” amid other competing health priorities, according to TV’s Dr Hilary Jones.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Diabetes Times, the celebrity GP said: “We have got this significant condition which is getting a lot worse very quickly and we are only paying lip service to raising awareness and helping people manage it.

“We are not giving it the respect it deserves, we could do a huge amount more to prevent this significant condition.”

The health editor of ITV’s breakfast show, the recently-rebranded Good Morning Britain, has joined forces with Diabetes.co.uk to raise awareness of diabetes.

Diabetes.co.uk is the largest community for people with diabetes in Europe with nearly 100,000 members living with and affected by the condition.

Together they also aim to provide education to the diabetes community via the website forum, which helps improve the lives of those with diabetes worldwide.

Dr Hilary, whose son Tristan developed Type 1 diabetes when he was seven, said: “I love the idea of the new diabetes.co.uk online forum because when my son was diagnosed the doctors and nurses were brilliant but it’s the day-to-day living people also need support with. You can go online and within five minutes you can have an answer.”

The results from the latest National Diabetes Audit show only 43 per cent of adults with Type 1 diabetes received
 all nine care checks during annual reviews, excluding retinopathy screening.

Asked whether general practice could do more to improve this rate, he said: “GPs could do more but it’s easy to say that, they already have a mass of things to do.”

As well as highlighting the need for more education, he called for a “diabetes champion” to “take control” in every surgery, whether they be a patient or doctor, adding: “In every surgery it takes a lot of passion and leadership.”

The TV doc also said: “The government could be doing a great deal to prevent obesity and not pay lip service to the food industry. They should subsidise fruit and veg.”

Diabetes.co.uk offers people with diabetes a platform where they can talk, support and help each other. The forum helps to raise awareness of the condition, while offering people the chance to share stories and swap knowledge.