GPs Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Patients
A new research says that up to 60 per cent of Irish people with type 2 diabetes receive most of their treatment from their GP.
Over 20 per cent of people with type 1 diabetes are mostly card for by their GP, according to a report in the April issue of the Irish Medical Journal.
The study found that practice location significantly affects the type of patient care, since rural doctors are more likely to report treating patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes.
- Only 53 GPs said they participated in a structured shared care scheme.
- Only 27 per cent of practices have access to a diabetes nurse.
- 56 per cent of the GPs had post-graduate training in diabetes, and 73 per cent said they use the ICGPs clinical guidelines in treating diabetes.
The GPs were asked to list 12 barriers to effective diabetes care. A lack of time was the most common barrier given, followed by ‘lack of remuneration’, ‘lack of support from local health boards’ and ‘lack of support from secondary care’. The long waiting times for hospital appointments was also mentioned as a barrier. The survey also states that training in diabetes is ‘variable’.
Filed under Diabetes
