Diabetes care in general practice

Diabetes mellitus poses a major health problem in the UK. Control of the disease is essential if the sufferer is to avoid long-term complications. Mary McKinnon highlights the role of the practice-based diabetic nurse specialist, working closely with medical and community nursing colleagues, in educating and supporting patients through their illness. She advocates the establishment of a diabetic register and measuring of intervention outcomes as minimum standards of care at district level, and goes on to detail the additional current and prospective benefits of a practice-based diabetic specialist team. With the complicated interdisciplinary communication and co-ordination that such a team presents, it is essential that the views of the patient are given prominence. The ‘personal touch’ remains the foundation of quality care.