Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Acton (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 23 June 2008.

Health: Diabetes

Question: My Lords, like the noble Viscount, Lord Falkland, I declare an interest in that I have type 2 diabetes, as no doubt do many other noble Lords. Is my noble friend aware that I am terrified of blood and machines? However, when I started testing, I persevered, and like the noble Viscount I now find blood testing an invaluable guide. This morning, my test was high. I realised that I had eaten too many boiled potatoes last night and will not do so again. Will my noble friend do all she can to publicise—I do not think that she stressed this point—the potential benefits of blood testing to type 2 diabetes sufferers? Boiled, my Lords.

Answer: My Lords, I am very sorry to hear that my noble friend ate too many potatoes. Boiled or whatever, my Lords, I am glad to hear that my noble friend is aware of that. He makes the point about the programme that he is part of. It was set up by the Department of Health and is called DESMOND—Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed—and it is vital for supporting people to manage their condition. It is about people with type 2 diabetes getting the right kind of education to ensure that they can self-monitor in the way that my noble friend referred to. The department recently issued further guidance to PCTs to the effect that they should use this as part of their ongoing programmes to support diabetes sufferers.

Secondary information