PATIENTS diagnosed with diabetes as children receive fewer check-ups than overweight adults who develop the condition, according to a new report.
Charity Diabetes UK Scotland, who published the research today, said the care available to diabetics from the NHS varies depending on where they live and the type of diabetes they have.
The report came as health board managers were criticised for failing to ensure enough children with diabetes are able to access insulin pumps – devices which eliminate the need for frequent insulin injections.
Jane-Claire Judson, the national director of Diabetes UK Scotland, said: "It is clear that people living with diabetes are not receiving all of the nationally agreed services that should be in place."
There are two kinds of diabetes, type one which usually starts in childhood and requires regular insulin injections, and type two which can potentially be controlled by diet.
Diabetes UK Scotland found patients with type one diabetes were less likely to receive optimum care. Long-term blood glucose assessments are considered vital, but it found people with type two diabetes were checked more frequently.
A greater proportion of patients with type two are also screened for eye damage, according to the data, and they are more likely to have had their feet assessed for the risk of problems.
The Scottish Government has made a commitment to supply one-quarter of under-18s who have diabetes with an insulin pump.
Yesterday, Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said "clinical competence" in some areas together with poor health board leadership had left a postcode lottery.
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