Prime Highlights 

• Diabetes UK has urged local health systems to invest in specialist nurses and healthcare staff to improve diabetes care in communities. 

• The move supports the government’s plan to create a neighbourhood health service focused on prevention and care closer to home. 

Key Facts 

• One in five adults in England lives with prediabetes or diabetes, with complications making up 60% of NHS diabetes costs. 

• A two-year pilot project led by a diabetes nurse prevented over 200 hospital referrals and improved blood sugar and heart health in people under 50. 

Backround 

Local health systems across England have been urged to prioritise investment in diabetes specialist nurses and other healthcare professionals as part of the government’s plan to develop a neighbourhood health service. The recommendation comes from a new Diabetes UK report, Delivering Diabetes Care in a Neighbourhood Health Service, which outlines how community-based care can improve outcomes for people living with or at risk of diabetes. 

The charity said the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), which helps primary care networks hire shared staff, could be used to recruit diabetes nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and other experts. Diabetes UK believes this would strengthen local teams, improve prevention, and cut hospital admissions. 

According to the report, one in five adults in England now lives with prediabetes or diabetes, and complications from the condition account for about 60% of the NHS’s total diabetes costs. With the right care and support, many of these complications could be prevented, the charity said. 

The report highlighted a project where a diabetes nurse supported GP practices with education and clinics. In two years, it prevented over 200 hospital visits and improved blood sugar and heart health in people under 50. 

Among its six key recommendations, Diabetes UK called for embedding clinical leadership in diabetes care, investing in specialist workforce development, strengthening digital healthcare, and improving data integration across care settings. 

Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said the vision for neighbourhood-based care is about prevention and healthier lives. “Lasting change starts in our communities,” she said. “By strengthening diabetes prevention, treatment, and care, we can build a health system that truly supports people to live longer and better.”