Social media and Skype to keep young people engaged with diabetes treatments

Advice published by NHS England has suggested that social media, texts and Skype should be used to maintain young people’s engagement with diabetes support and treatment.

The ‘Diabetes Transition Service Specification’ has been designed to improve services for young people transferring from child to adult services or changing services geographically.

Statistics show there are currently 27,000 children and young people in England with diabetes, 96 per cent of whom have Type 1 diabetes.

Evidence has found that the longer the time period between appointments, the higher the chance of a young person developing psychosocial issues such as anxiety and depression and increased HbA1c. Diabetes has also been linked to a higher incidence of eating disorders.

The new guidelines are aimed at better informing commissioners’ development of a clear specification based on local context.

Dr Jackie Cornish, NHS England’s national clinical director for children and young people, said: “Making sure children and young people understand their condition and know how to effectively manage it through life is one of the most important elements of care because this reduces the likelihood of complications later in life.

“When young people move services it is one of the most challenging times and we know from evidence this is often a point when they disengage or lose interest in attending. This guidance is based on the best evidence available and we urge commissioners to use it when developing their local plans.”

Each service specification is expected to consist of three key stages of transition guidance, including: paediatric preparation, planned transfers and supported integration into adult and new care settings.

So far, an estimated £10 billion is spent annually on diabetes care, making up ten per cent of total NHS spend. There are over four million people living with diabetes in the UK.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS England National clinical director for obesity and diabetes, said: “Diabetes and the treatment of its complications are a significant issue for the NHS. The transition from childhood and parental supervision to adulthood and independence can be particularly difficult for many young people with diabetes.

“This is a time when the traditional paternalistic model of healthcare delivery doesn’t suit all. We are therefore encouraging commissioners to explore the role of social media in the interactions between these young people and their healthcare professionals. But this is just one point of many in this comprehensive specification which we hope will guide local plans and help improve services for these patients.”

As the scheme is launched, Newham General Hospital’s Diabetes Appointments via Webcam in Newham (DAWN) programme has proven a success, with young people’s clinic attendance increasing from 16 per cent to 30-50 per cent.

The service was set up with the Health Foundation’s SHINE award (£75,000) and has been estimated to increase productivity by 22-28 per cent, saving around £27 per consultant appointment in clinician time.

Dr Shanti Vijayaraghavan, diabetes and endocrinology consultant at Newham University Hospital, said: “We are very pleased at the results we have had so far and I am increasingly offering it to all of the patients attending my diabetes clinic.

“It means we can keep in touch with a number of patients who might otherwise have become disengaged and present later with complications. While we understand there will always be a percentage of people who do not attend any type of appointment, we are keen to offer more flexible outpatient access which is better able to accommodate patient needs.