National service frameworks (NSFs): Scotland
According to the Scottish Diabetes Survey 2006 there are 196,801 people with diagnosed diabetes in Scotland (Scottish Diabetes Survey Monitoring Group 2008). The Scottish Public Health Observatory provides some information on estimated numbers of undiagnosed cases of diabetes in Scotland - see the section of their website on undiagnosed diabetes.
The Scottish Diabetes Framework, which was developed by a working group set up by the Scottish Executive, marked the start of a 10 year programme setting out key building blocks for the development of services. It also established the Scottish Diabetes Group to monitor and support the implementation of the framework. An action plan published in 2006 presented a three year agenda to improve diabetes care in Scotland building on the work done by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in developing clinical standards for diabetes care.
A further action plan published in 2010 continues the range of work set out in the 2006 plan. It takes into account the feedback from the ‘Better diabetes care’ consultation undertaken in 2009 as part of the development process for this new action plan.
The Diabetes in Scotland website brings together information on key groups, events, educational opportunities for professionals and patients, publications and research.
Key documents
Many of the documents below are in PDF format - See how to access PDF files.
National Service Framework
Scottish Government (2010) Diabetes action plan 2010: quality care for diabetes in Scotland
This continues the range of work set out in the 2006 action plan and reflects the principles of the Scottish Quality Strategy. The plan is also influenced by the diabetes clinical standards of 2002, the criteria in the diabetes domain of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and the SIGN guideline 116 on the management of diabetes. It discusses in detail what is required to improve aspects of diabetes care and the delivery of care in Scotland and sets out the actions that will be taken to achieve this.
Scottish Executive (2002) Scottish Diabetes Framework
The framework draws together existing guidance and practice amongst which two key documents are the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline on 'Management of Diabetes' published in 2001, and the Clinical Standards published in 2002. The framework consists of 22 building blocks, seven of which have been identified as first stage priorities, arranged under six broad headings.
National clinical guidelines and standards
Further guidelines and standards for specific aspects of diabetes and diabetes care are also included within the specific resource lists.
Clinical Standards Board for Scotland (2002) Clinical standards diabetes. Second edition
These standards apply to specific elements of diabetes and cover organisation; patient focus and clinical aspects. The 10 standards are used to assess performance in these areas in trusts throughout Scotland where diabetes services are provided.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (2008) Diabetes national overview follow-up report
This report, based on the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland follow-up reports for each NHS board area, presents a national overview of diabetes services within NHS Scotland; reporting on the performance across Scotland against the standards and including relevant examples of local initiatives. The report is made available on the website of Healthcare Improvement Scotland which has taken on work previously done by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and other bodies.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) (2010) Management of diabetes (SIGN publication number 116)
This guideline provides recommendations based on current evidence for best practice in the management of diabetes. This is a selective update. Where new evidence did not update existing evidence the guideline text and recommendations were reproduced from SIGN 55. The guideline includes recommendations on: lifestyle interventions for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes; managing psychosocial issues in people with diabetes; managing type 1 diabetes; glucose-lowering therapies in people with type 2 diabetes; managing cardiovascular, kidney and foot diseases in people with diabetes; preventing visual impairment in people with diabetes and managing type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Other reports
Diabetes UK Scotland
This section of the Diabetes UK website includes information gathered from surveys on diabetes care undertaken by Diabetes UK and sets it alongside information from Scottish government publications.