THERE are 1.3 million people with diabetes in England, and every year the number of people living with diabetes goes up. Diabetes can affect anyone from any background at any age. But it is more common as you get older.

If diabetes is not found, treated, or managed, it can have a major effect on a person?s quality of life. There is much that can be done to improve the health of people with diabetes and to reduce their risk of complications.

Diabetes UK has given a cautious welcome to the government?s long awaited Diabetes National Service Framework for England that was published on January 9. This is an important step to improving diabetes care but there is still a long way to go.

At a local level the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will be responsible for setting challenging and measurable targets such as a commitment for screening for eye disease and the government must make sure that the resources PCTs have are adequate to deliver the required care.

Those of us who are diabetic welcome the advances being made on our behalf and in addition more than welcome the news which will discover those who have diabetes and are not yet aware of it.

Clive A Simpson

70B Broad Park Road

Bere Alston