Diabetics are urged to have regular check-ups
PEOPLE with diabetes in west Wales are being urged to have regular check-ups to recognise any red flags that require immediate care.
Despite this message from health bosses, leading charity Diabetes UK Cymru has warned of a care “ticking time bomb” across Wales due to the Covid-19 pandemic - which has seen care delayed for many living with the lifelong condition over the past 20 months.
The advice to maintain diabetic check-ups comes from Hywel Dda University Health board which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Along with checking blood sugar levels, patients are also urged to examine their feet daily at home, for any danger signs.
Feet can suffer complications from poorly managed diabetes, including infection, discharge, swelling, pain and throbbing.
Laura Jones, a diabetes specialist dietitian at the health board, said: “The pandemic has meant some people with diabetes have not been able to have their regular diabetes foot checks.
“That’s why we want to encourage people to perform a self-check of their feet at home, and if they have any concerns, they should contact the podiatry team immediately.”
Clinics operate across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire at the following locations: Outpatients, Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen - Thursday 2pm-4pm; Outpatients, Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli - Wednesday 2pm-4pm; Podiatry department, Tenby Cottage Hospital, Tenby Tuesday 1pm-3pm; Outpatients, Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth - Friday 9.30am -11.30am. These clinics are only for urgent foot pathologies, including infection, ulceration, gangrene or neuroarthropathy (red, hot, swollen foot).
Appointments will not be required as patients who attend drop-in clinics will be seen in order of their arrival.
While patients are encouraged to still seek and attend their regular diabetic appointments, many are simply not being seen to in a timely manner, against the very challenging pandemic backdrop for the NHS.
Figures obtained by Diabetes UK Cymru show 40% of people with diabetes in Wales had consultations cancelled over the last year, that have still not taken place.
One in three have not had contact with their diabetes team since the start of the pandemic and more than half of people in Wales have had difficulties managing their diabetes themselves during the pandemic.
The charity said the wide reaching impacts of the pandemic on how diabetes care is delivered are worsening an already rapidly growing health crisis.
Diabetes UK Cymru is calling for urgent investment from Welsh Government and the prioritisation of diabetes to address inequalities in the health care system.
The charity said it recognises the incredible work of NHS
Wales over the last 18 months to keep us all safe and well, and that there have been many strides forward in diabetes care and prevention in recent years.
While healthcare professionals have been working tirelessly through the pandemic, it said these findings reveal the extent to which diabetes services have been hit by the pandemic.
David Chaney, assistant director for Local Impact at Diabetes UK said: “Diabetes is serious.
“People with the condition have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they develop Covid-19, as it is.
“Routine appointments are essential for identifying the early signs of complications and for keeping self-management on track.
“Missed appointments and missed diagnoses can devastate lives.
“We are asking that the Welsh Government prioritises the recovery and delivery of routine diabetes care services and catch-up on the backlog of appointments caused by the pandemic.
“We’re also urging the government to address inequalities in diabetes care in deprived communities and ethnic minority groups.
“Investment in prevention, access to technology and psychological support also needs to increase if we want to defuse the diabetes timebomb, one the fastest growing health crises in Wales and UK-wide.”
Sian Fisher, 27, is a primary school teacher from Ammanford in Carmarthenshire, and lives with type 1 diabetes.
She has noticed a big difference in her care since the start of the pandemic in March last year.
Sian said: “I understand that the NHS is busy and staff are doing their best, but when you live with a long-term condition like diabetes it’s important to have face to face support.
“That has changed, I haven’t seen my doctor for almost two years, I have only had a very short telephone call with a consultant.”
She added: “I think there should be more Covid-19 testing and face to face support for people with diabetes to ensure that the condition is managed properly.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the pandemic has had a significant impact on people with diabetes.
“We have announced nearly £250 million of additional funding as part of our NHS recovery plan, which includes funding for chronic condition management in the community.
“We continue to work with our Diabetes Implementation Group which is formed of clinical professions and third sector organisations, including Diabetes UK Cymru to improve outcomes and care for people living with diabetes.”
I think there should be more Covid-19 testing and face to face support for people with diabetes to ensure that the condition is managed properly
Sian Fisher, of Ammanford