Diabetes Network for Northern Ireland

The Diabetes Network for Northern Ireland brings together people living with diabetes, carers, and health and social care professionals working in partnership with Diabetes UK on the design and delivery of better diabetes services.

The Network supports the implementation of the Department of Health’s (DoH) Strategic Framework for Diabetes, one of a series of initiatives to support the ‘Health and Well-being 2026, Delivering Together’ plan which aims to transform Health and Social Care (HSC) services across Northern Ireland.

The Network will lead the improvement of care for people in Northern Ireland who:

are living with all types of diabetes,
are at risk of developing diabetes,
care for people who live with diabetes.

Diabetes Foot Care Pathway

The Diabetes Network for Northern Ireland has launched a new Foot Care Pathway to improve services for adults living with diabetes.

The new Diabetes Foot Care Pathway enables all adults with diabetes to access the same services no matter where they live in Northern Ireland. It consists of 4 steps including annual foot care screening through to advanced foot disease care and treatment with a focus on the prevention of ulcers and amputations which will ultimately reduce hospital admissions.

Diabetes Foot Care Pathway FAQs

More Diabetes Network NI videos – vimeo.com/showcase/diabetes-network

Working Groups

The following working groups have been established:

Working Group	Chair
Ambulance Service Pathways	Sophie Lusby, Health and Social Care Board (HSCB)
Data Development	Co-chaired by: Dr Brendan O’Brien, Clinical Informatics Specialist, HSCB Ms Adele Graham, Senior Health Intelligence Manager, Public Health Agency (PHA)
Education and Workforce	Under development
Foot Pathway	Co-chaired by: Dr Hamish Courtney, Consultant Endocrinologist, Belfast Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust. Dr Brian Connor, GP.
Inpatient Care	Co-chaired by: Dr Una Bradley, Consultant Endocrinologist, Southern HSC Trust. Lisa King, Lecturer in Nursing, University of Ulster.
New Models of Care	Under development
Paediatric Services	Dr Brid Farrell, PHA
Patient Education	Co-chaired by: Florence Findlay-White, Diabetes UK. Lesley Hamilton, Western HSC Trust.
Pregnancy	Co-chaired by: Professor David McCance, Consultant Endocrinologist, Diabetes Regional Centre, Belfast HSC Trust Mrs Denise Boulter, Midwife Consultant, PHA
Primary Prevention of Type 2 disease	Co-chaired by: Brendan Heaney, Diabetes UK Dr Louise Herron, PHA
Retinopathy	Dr Adrian Mairs, PHA
Young Adults	Co-chaired by: Dr Athinyaa Thiraviaraj, Consultant Endocrinologist, Western HSC Trust.
Technology to support people living with diabetes	Co-chaired by: Dr Neil Black, Consultant Endocrinologist Western HSC Trust. Profesor Roy Harper, Consultant Endocrinologist, South Eastern HSC Trust

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where your blood sugar level is higher than normal.

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1 – About 8 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 1. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it’s not to do with being overweight and it isn’t currently preventable. It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly. Type 1 diabetes is treated by daily insulin doses – taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. It is also recommended to follow a healthy diet and take regular physical activity.
Type 2 (formerly called non-insulin-dependent diabetes) – Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have Type 2. They might get Type 2 diabetes because of their family history, age and ethnic background puts them at increased risk. They are also more likely to get Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight. It starts gradually, usually later in life, and it can be years before they realise they have it. Type 2 diabetes is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. In addition, tablets and/or insulin can be required.

About 2 per cent of people have other types of diabetes. Other types include 11 different forms of monogenic diabetes, cystic fibrosis related diabetes and diabetes caused by rare syndromes. Certain medication such as steroids and antipsychotics, surgery or hormonal imbalances could also lead to other types of diabetes.

For more information about diabetes visit the Diabetes UK website.

Diabetes Medicines and Prescribing

Name	Description	Date
HSCB Letter Freestyle Libre (Flash Glucose Monitoring Pathway)	Letter to HSC Trusts' Chief Executives	4th December 2017
Pathway for the Managed Access of FreeStyle Libre®	Guidance	4th December 2017
Prescribing of FreeStyle Libre	Letter to HSC Trusts' Chief Executives	4th December 2017
Prescribing of FreeStyle Libre	Letter to GP Practices and Community Pharmacists	6th November 2017