Scotland
Diabetes UK Scotland is the leading charity working for people with diabetes in Scotland – funding research, campaigning and influencing and providing care and support for people living with the condition.
Around 193,000 people in Scotland have been diagnosed with diabetes and tens of thousands have the condition but don’t know it yet.
1 in 3 people with diabetes risks losing their sight
55,000 people in Scotland, enough to fill Hampden Stadium, are risking losing their sight because they are missing out on regular annual screening test for diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes UK Scotland has joined forces with RNIB Scotland, to bring the 'Think of what you might miss' campaign to Scottish health board areas.
The campaign has also been working with NHS Scotland to deliver new materials to ensure the importance of eye screening is understood and has the support of the new Scottish Executive.
A message from our Director
“If I could change one thing about the diabetes care and support I receive it would be to make myself understood”. These are the words of a person with diabetes responding to an opportunity to say something about themselves and their diabetes care. Amidst the complexity of national frameworks, clinical networks, standards and priorities the words serve as a reminder that understanding the person with diabetes and creating the conditions for dialogue within services is key to achieving successful outcomes.
For Diabetes UK Scotland, the voice of the person with diabetes is at the heart of what we do. We are, first and foremost, an organisation of people with diabetes and their carers.
Our work in 2007
The main focus of our work this year will be:
- Continuing to work with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to highlight patient experiences of diabetes services.
- Campaigning to raise awareness of diabetes during the Scottish Parliamentary elections and ensuring that the new parliament and Scottish Executive are fully briefed on diabetes and related issues.
- Raising awareness of screening for diabetic retinopathy through a joint campaign with the Royal National Institute for the Blind Scotland.