Diabetes: policy context

Policy overview

The Diabetes Care in Scotland – Progress against National Priorities document was published in 2020 and discusses progress against the Diabetes Improvement Plan 2014 and Diabetes improvement moving forward.

The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published a clinical guideline (NG28) on the management of type 2 diabetes in 2015, which was last updated in 2022. This clinical guideline updates and replaces a number of previous NICE guidelines on the management of type 2 diabetes.

The 'A Healthier Future: Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention of Type 2 Diabetes framework' was published by the Scottish Government in 2018. It sets out the national guidance for the management of type 2 diabetes from national, board and individual perspectives.

The Diabetes Improvement Plan 2021 – 2026 was published in 2021 and focuses on the priority areas in diabetes care; prevention and early detection, person-centred care, equity of access for all diabetes patients, staff development and many other aspects of improving diabetes care.  

Monitoring and screening

• Diabetic eye screening for retinopathy is available to everyone over the age of 12 in Scotland with a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Screening supports early detection and treatment of retinopathy which can lead to sight loss. Retinopathy risk is increased for people with diabetes as elevated blood glucose levels over time can cause small blood vessels in the to leak or become blocked.
• The NHS also provides free eye tests at an optician (separate from diabetic eye screening) for everyone diagnosed with diabetes.
• Screening for the condition of Diabetes itself is not currently recommended in the UK, including in Scotland, for any type of diabetes.

Access to technology

The Scottish Diabetes Survey provides data and insights on use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin pump therapy.