Rant

On average, Type one diabetes costs the NHS £1 billion annually.
Type two is £8.8 billion.
Making the overall cost of diabetes on the NHS £9.8 billion.
80% of this money goes to treating complications.

So my question is, if the NHS are "so concerned" about the cost of diabetes, and if it's threat to make the NHS "bankrupt within a generation" is so overwhelming; then why isn't more being done to prevent Type two, to cure Type one and to provide better health care and education surrounding both types?
An article from 2012 states that "Experts say much of this is preventable with health checks and better education" and so I say, yes, that's one way of preventing type two- but how about those who already have type two and for those who are like me, who have type one diabetes? Why isn't there consistent high quality health care for us all? That's one of the reasons that 80% of the cost goes to treating complications...because too many diabetics all over the country are being left with out proper health care but the Government won't admit that and it's blamed purely on the supposed "poor efforts" of those who live with the disease that magically apply to every diabetic in the country somehow- when they know full well it is not the majority. I'm lucky enough to have an amazing diabetes team, but others aren't so lucky. So it's up to the diabetics and charities like Diabetes UK and JDRF to stand up and give each other a voice, with the help of the MP's who actually want to help- but then ultimately it's down to the higher individuals, who don't seem to be all that concerned.

And, when the articles come out with headlines plastered all over them about the rising numbers of type one and two diabetes...who is listening? The government will read it and the NHS will criticize and moan about it, then sit back and do nothing. While there are diabetics, type one and type two doing all that they can to make a change but sometimes to no avail.

Every week, billions of pounds are given away in the national lottery. And yet, the government and the NHS claim that they can't afford the cost that diabetes has and that it is putting a strain on the NHS. So, why is there not more money going towards the things that really matter such as the National Health Service rather than the national lottery? Then, this is the best bit...GP's think that they can cut down the number of test strips given to diabetics...TEST STRIPS...the very things that we rely on to know how our blood sugars are doing through out the day. Then wonder why diabetics have so many complications, or high hba1c's. Some hospitals, they give out absolutely horrendous care for their diabetic patients, another thing! Not even the health care "professionals" know the seriousness of type one and type two diabetes! The people whose hands we're supposed to put our health into...just about know the basics of the diseases they're dealing with.

So, maybe the government and the NHS and all of the people who are supposed to make a difference in this country should review the state the health service is in before criticising a certain aspect. And I certainly believe that it isn't fair that the diabetic be blamed entirely for their situation- ok of course there are those who really don't control their blood sugars but there should be more focus on trying to help them. It really annoys me.

And as for type one diabetes; it alone costs £1 billion so why isn't there more funding and more research into finding a cure? Sometimes type two diabetes does get all the attention in terms of the NHS and type one is pushed aside, probably because 95% of all diabetics are type two but that's no excuse. Both types need equal research and campaigns and funding and everything that there is to try and stop diabetes.

The NHS are complaining about the cost of diabetes so why not get up and do something about it. Things can't change from just the diabetics alone.
There are over 3 million diabetics living in the UK both type one and type two- but even in our large number we're still not heard as much as we should be.

Now I'm not a politician, and I don't know much about politics or the government or even the way the NHS works entirely- and I may or may not be the most knowledgeable on the subject and I may or may not have included everything or said something wrong or whatever but...anyway my point is is that not enough is being done. And if at sixteen years old I can recognise that then I have every reason to believe that an adult should too.

Rant over.

-Ellie
[Peace&Insulin]