PATIENTS with diabetes are facing an "unacceptable" care lottery in Scotland leaving some at greater risk of life threatening complications, a charity has warned.
The proportion of patients who receive regular, essential checks varies widely across the country, according to research by Diabetes Scotland.
They indicate that without proper annual monitoring health issues linked to the condition, which affects more than 276,000 people north of the Border, can snowball leading to amputations, blindness or strokes.
Some health boards including NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are consistently falling below average for the number of patients they monitor closely, according to the charity.
They are calling for the Scottish Government to take action.
Jane-Claire Judson, national director of Diabetes Scotland, said: “It is indefensible that people living with diabetes are subjected to such disparities of care across Scotland. Whether you live in Orkney or Forth Valley should have no bearing on the level of care a person receives but what we are seeing are significant differences in the percentage of people receiving each of the nine essential care processes dependent on the health board area in which they live."
Diabetes Scotland looked at nine key checks which experts say people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes should receive every year. These include examinations to check circulation and nerve supply to the feet, kidney function tests and eye screening.
Using data collected for the Scottish Government they found almost a fifth of people with Type 2 diabetes and almost 40 per cent of those with Type 1 were not receiving annual foot checks.
The proportion of patients receiving a key kidney function test was as low as 46.8 per cent among Type 1 diabetics in Lanarkshire and 55.3 per cent in Ayrshire and Arran.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway was managing annual eye tests for 92 per cent of patients with Type 1 diabetes, compared to 78 per cent in Lanarkshire and 81 per cent in the NHS GGC area.
Blood pressure readings are being recorded for most patients annually, but almost 20 per cent of those with Type 2 diabetes are missing out on cholesterol monitoring.
Ms Judson said: “Healthcare in Scotland is grounded on the premise that there is equitable access for all. The evidence presented from Scottish Government’s own figures is indicating that this is not the case for people with diabetes. Across the country people with Type 1 diabetes are routinely receiving poorer care than those who have Type 2 diabetes. Additionally, if you have diabetes and live in an area of multi-deprivation, you are also more likely to receive poorer care and outcomes."
It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of complications from diabetes are preventable with better care.
In a statement NHS GGC said they recognised there are areas of their diabetes care where improvements need to be made and a detailed programme of work is already in place.
They continued: "It is a well known phenomenon that it is more difficult to achieve a high take up of screening and regular check-ups with populations in the most deprived communities.
"NHS GGC has amongst the highest concentration of people living with deprivation anywhere in Scotland. It must be recognised therefore that this is factor in some of these areas of performance."
Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said: "We know that the number of people living with diabetes in Scotland is increasing. However, this is not because we are seeing an increase in the number of new cases of diabetes picked up every year, but rather that people with diabetes are living longer with the condition.
"Latest figures show that for the first time we are seeing the percentage of people with poor glucose control decreasing and more people than ever accessing crucial eye screening and feet checks.
"Our Diabetes Improvement Plan, which was published in November 2014, builds on these positive findings and sets out a programme of work to enhance services for people with diabetes, and help reduce their risk of complications."
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