Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or alternatively, when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is therefore a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes, and over time it leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

Diabetes types:

  • Type 1-diabetes is typically found in children and younger people, but the disease does occur in all age groups. It is characterized by a lack of insulin production.
  • Type 2-diabetes usually occurs later in life and is to some extent caused by our way of life. Type 2-diabetes comprises around 90% of people with diabetes.

Symptoms

  • Excessive excretion of urine, thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue.
  • It can occur in a few days or weeks and the treatment is daily administration of insulin.

Key Facts

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes and that this number is likely to more than double by 2030.
  • An estimated 1.4 million people in the UK are known to have diabetes, with possibly up to a million more undiagnosed.
  • An estimate of the costs of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1 diabetes) in England and Wales in 1992 put the direct costs at £96 million and the indirect costs at £113 million.
  • Overall, estimates suggest that diabetes costs the NHS at least £2 billion every year - 8 per cent of total hospital expenditure. More than half of this sum is spent treating the complications of the disease, and 10 per cent of hospital beds are occupied by people with diabetes.

Sources and further information

Diabetes - disease management sheet

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/

http://www.iddtinternational.org/facts/index.htm

How does telehealth help patients with Diabetes?

Tunstall’s telehealth monitors can be configured with specific devices and questions. For diabetes this could be blood pressure monitors and blood glucose monitors. Keeping the blood glucose as close to normal as possible is the best way to avoid or delay complications of diabetes. Collecting vital signs will be supported by personalised symptomatic questions.

It is beneficial to ask symptomatic questions, because it can help patients gain a greater understanding of their symptoms, and thereby contribute in improving the patient’s awareness of their own condition, and make them react on any changes that might occur.

Case study

David is 58 years old, has a history of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LSVD), type II diabetes and a history of repeated hospital admissions. On a number of occasions the telehealth monitor identified changes in David’s vital signs which prompted visits by a Community Matron who examined him and adjusted his medication accordingly. As a result of telehealth David feels more secure and confident that changes in his health will be identified and that prompt action will be taken.

David said: “This is a beautiful machine. It’s a preventative machine and a real lifesaver. Without it I couldend up in hospital but now I can spot possible problems, such as high blood pressure or lack of oxygen, and nip them in the bud before they get any worse and become a real problem.”

Case Studies

Solutions

Telehealth Solutions