New resources launched to help professionals working in primary care healthcare boost their knowledge about flash glucose monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

New resources launched for primary healthcare professionals

A new package of resources has been launched to help primary care healthcare professionals boost their knowledge about flash glucose monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

The resources have been created by the award - winning EDEN (Effective Diabetes Education Now) programme alongside Abbott and Dexcom and were released nationally last month following the end of Diabetes Week.

The new education package, known as Implementing Glucose Sensing in Primary Care, has been developed in response to the latest NICE guidelines which recommend wider access on the NHS to flash and CGM for people living with diabetes.

Flash glucose monitoring and CGM improve time in target glucose range, quality of life and reduce the risk of hospital admission for severe hypoglycaemia and diabetic ketoacidosis.

Previously, these technologies were limited to only some people living with type 1 diabetes who required support from secondary care and those who were self - funding.

However, the updated NICE guide lines released in March 2022, recommend flash glucose monitoring and CGM is accessible to all people living with type 1 diabetes, and for some people with type 2 diabetes.

Professor Pratik Choudhary, Professor of Diabetes, Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester, Hon Consultant in Diabetes, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Chair – DTN-UK, Clinical Lead for Type 1 Diabetes – Midlands, said: “The latest NICE guidelines provides greater access to glucose sensing for people with insulin - treated diabetes. A large proportion of these are managed in primary care and so it’s really important that we support primary care colleagues, increasing awareness, knowledge and familiarity with these systems and the data they generate so that we can provide our patients with better outcomes and quality of life.”

Laura Willcocks, Lead for Healthcare Professional Education and Training, EDEN, added: “Eden and the Leicester Diabetes Centre pride themselves on being at the forefront of relevant and practical education for healthcare professionals across the UK and internationally. We are thrilled to be working with DTN-UK and PCDS, Abbott and Dexcom to create a suite of resources and tools that will enhance the knowledge of all staff working in primary care to support their patients confidently with new technology.”

Dr Sam Seidu is a General Practitioner and Partner at Hockley Farm Medical Practice and also a NIHR Clinical Lecturer.

He said: “CGM and flash glucose monitoring has revolutionised how people living with diabetes manage their condition. Up until now these devices have been largely initiated and managed in secondary care. The recently updated NICE guidance has helped to make this technology available to more of the patients I see in primary care, living with not just type 1, but also some people with type 2 diabetes. As a practising primary care clinician, the resources and educational packages created by the EDEN team will help me enhance my knowledge and confidence, and I look forward to learning and putting the theory into practice.”

Norfolk GP, Dr Clare Hambling, who is the Chair of PCDS, said: “The aim of the PCDS is always to support primary care professionals to deliver high quality clinically effective care, improving the lives of people living with diabetes. We are very pleased to be working in collaboration with DTN-UK and EDEN at the Leicester Diabetes Centre for a complete suite of education materials to support the implementation of the NICE guidelines for Type 2 diabetes in Adults: Management (NG28) and Type 1 Diabetes in Adults: Diagnosis and Management (NG17).”

The education package has been endorsed by the Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) and Diabetes Technology Network (DTN-UK).

For more information about EDEN, visit: edendiabetes.com.