Care recommendations
Early identification of diabetes for community pharmacists
The community pharmacist’s role in the care of people with diabetes is described in the Society’s practice guidance, available from the Society’s Practice Division. This document, which supplements the practice guidance, has been prepared to offer guidance to pharmacists who are involved, or who are thinking of becoming involved in providing an early identification (screening) service for diabetes.
Diabetes affects two to five per cent of the population (approximately 10 per cent Type 1 and 90 per cent Type 2) and its prevalence is rising. Prevalence increases with age and in the UK it has been estimated that there are a million people with diabetes (mainly Type 2) who remain undiagnosed and are thus denied the benefits of treatment .
Community pharmacists see people who are ‘apparently well’ in addition to those with diagnosed medical conditions. They are likely to come in to contact with people with undiagnosed diabetes who rarely access their GP and other mainstream NHS services. Some may present symptoms of diabetes, but many will be asymptomatic. They also see people who may be at risk of developing the disease. Community pharmacists who are taking part, or have taken part, in screening for diabetes, and have referred people to their GPs, have helped people to obtain earlier diagnosis and earlier access to appropriate advice and treatment.
NB This document relates to early identification of patients with possible elevated blood glucose and not to diagnosis. Diagnosis of diabetes must be confirmed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional following further testing using accredited laboratory services, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) diagnostic criteria. Pharmacists considering setting up an early case identification service for diabetes are advised to consult the professional requirements relating to diagnostic testing and health screening as set out in the Code of Ethics service specification 14. Further guidance on the testing of body fluids in pharmacies is being developed and will be published in due course.
Sept 2006
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