Tynemouth MP has been thanked by Diabetes UK after signing a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Health asking for better emotional and psychological support for people with diabetes.

Diabetes UK are working with NHS England on a care pathway for diabetes and emotional and mental health after a recent report revealed that:

• 7 in 10 people living with diabetes feel overwhelmed by the demands of their condition.
• Of these, three quarters said their self-management was affected by their emotional struggle.
• Two-thirds of parents and carers of people with diabetes always or often feel overwhelmed.
• Poor emotional and mental health leads to poorer health outcomes, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs.

And this is not just about diabetes. People with all types of long-term conditions are more likely to suffer from mental ill health, with individuals two to three times more likely to experience a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression. The King’s Fund estimate that between 12%-18% of all NHS expenditure on long-term conditions is linked to poor mental health and wellbeing.

Alan said “With diabetes already costing the NHS at least £10 billion every year (10% of its annual budget) and with it having a significant impact on individuals’ quality of life, and with similar impacts reported by other long-term health conditions, we need to see more ambitious action from Government to address the mental impact of these conditions and improve how current strategies are implemented locally.”