Conference blames government cuts, junk-food and food labelling
Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:34:00 GMT
"…with both type one and type two diabetes on the increase, professionals are keen to see preventative action taken now…"
With no increase in government healthcare funding, children's diabetes services are struggling to help support children and young people to manage their diabetes well, conference delegates were told.
Over 200 delegates at what is the largest Diabetes conference in the North of England heard speakers repeatedly confirm that diminishing services and resources will challenge both healthcare professionals and people with diabetes during the current economic climate.
The conference, Diabetes: triumphing over adversity, was hosted by the University of Huddersfield and organised in collaboration with Diabetes UK and the University of York and many local clinicians.
Academics and clinicians from across the region heard speakers reflect on challenges for both healthcare professionals and people with diabetes during the current economic climate.
Opened by Selby GP Dr John Reid, the conference welcomed keynote speakers Jan Suchaki, the Director of England for Diabetes UK, Dr Chinnadorai Rajeswaran, a consultant diabetologist at Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust and Chair of the National Diabesity Forum and Dr Fiona Campbell, consultant paediatric diabetologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Clinical Lead for the Yorkshire and Humberside Paediatric Diabetes Network.
With both type one and type two diabetes on the increase, the latter affecting 85% of those with the condition, professionals are keen to see preventative action taken.
Co-chair Phil Holdich, senior lecturer and diabetic specialist at the University of Huddersfield, highlighted this: "We need to help people and prevent diabetes," he said. "There is certainly a big role to be played in prevention, particularly getting people to exercise more, keep their weight down and eat the right food. This can be done on a national level, with food labelling, curbs on types of food available and not advertising junk food to children, and also on local level with support programmes."
"Looking particularly at adolescents we know it is a difficult time anyway, regardless of the fact that they have diabetes," said Phil. "In order to keep themselves well they need to regularly take their insulin, eat the right kinds of food and exercise properly; but they also need specialist support so they can cope with the emotional burden of having the condition. To be able to do this you need health care professionals who have a good knowledge of not only diabetes, but also paediatrics and working with young people. And you need enough people to do that."
With no increase in government healthcare funding, children's diabetes services are struggling to help support children and young people to manage their diabetes well, conference delegates were told.
Over 200 delegates at what is the largest Diabetes conference in the North of England heard speakers repeatedly confirm that diminishing services and resources will challenge both healthcare professionals and people with diabetes during the current economic climate.
The conference, Diabetes: triumphing over adversity was hosted by the University of Huddersfield and organised in collaboration with Diabetes UK and the University of York and many local clinicians.
Academics and clinicians from across the region heard speakers reflect on challenges for both healthcare professionals and people with diabetes during the current economic climate.
Opened by Selby GP Dr John Reid, the conference welcomed keynote speakers Jan Suchaki, the Director of England for Diabetes UK, Dr Chinnadorai Rajeswaran, a consultant diabetologist at Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust and Chair of the National Diabesity Forum and Dr Fiona Campbell, consultant paediatric diabetologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Clinical Lead for the Yorkshire and Humberside Paediatric Diabetes Network.
With both type one and type two diabetes on the increase, the latter affecting 85% of those with the condition, professionals are keen to see preventative action taken.
Co-chair Phil Holdich, senior lecturer and diabetic specialist at the University of Huddersfield, highlighted this: "We need to help people and prevent diabetes," he said. "There is certainly a big role to be played in prevention, particularly getting people to exercise more, keep their weight down and eat the right food. This can be done on a national level, with food labelling, curbs on types of food available and not advertising junk food to children, and also on local level with support programmes."
"Looking particularly at adolescents we know it is a difficult time anyway, regardless of the fact that they have diabetes," said Phil. "In order to keep themselves well they need to regularly take their insulin, eat the right kinds of food and exercise properly; but they also need specialist support so they can cope with the emotional burden of having the condition. To be able to do this you need health care professionals who have a good knowledge of not only diabetes, but also paediatrics and working with young people. And you need enough people to do that."
