Figures on diabetes-related hospital admissions and deaths in the latest ScotPHO website quarterly updates show both hospital admissions and deaths where diabetes was a contributory or primary cause have increased over the last 10 years.

In 2017-18 hospital admissions associated with diabetes decreased slightly but mortality continued to increase.

Director of Diabetes Scotland, Angela Mitchell, said:

“We welcome these new figures, showing an increase in admissions to hospital with a diagnosis of diabetes, as this shows that there has been an improvement in recording people’s diabetes status.

“However, it is very worrying to see a rise in the number of people with diabetes dying in hospital.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said:

“The number of people in Scotland with diabetes is increasing. This is due to better care and people living longer with the condition, however, this increase parallels the risk of admissions.

“Since 2010, the Scottish Government has implemented a number of initiatives to improve diabetes care which will help to reduce unplanned hospital admissions.

“Action includes improving blood glucose control by providing £10 million additional funding during the course of this Parliament to support an increase in the provision of insulin pumps for adults and for Continuous Glucose Monitors.

“In addition, our Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan strives to make a significant impact on the prevention and remission of type 2 diabetes. This includes our commitment to invest £42m over five years for the development of weight management for people with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes as part of implementing our Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Framework.”

Alongside calling for greater awareness and implementation of the health improvement programmes, Think Check Act and Check, Protect and Refer, 

Diabetes Scotland cautions:

‘At the same time there needs to be more support and awareness of the importance of self-management to help prevent people living with diabetes from developing potentially devastating complications.’

Director of Diabetes Scotland, Angela Mitchell