Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.
There are two main types of diabetes:
- type 1 diabetes – where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
- type 2 diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin.
You can also find information and advice for people with diabetes who are planning for pregnancy,
Below you can get more information about services in Derby and Derbyshire for people with diabetes.
If you would like health advice about how living with diabetes, visit the NHS page on the disease.
Changing your blood glucose meter
There has been a National review of all the glucose and ketone testing meters and there is a new list of recommended ones.
The key goals were to:
- Make sure everyone, no matter where they live, has access to the same blood glucose and ketone testing
- Set fair and clear quality standards to meet the needs of all people with diabetes
- Ensure all patients have access to meters with the latest technology
- Use NHS resources wisely, making sure the cost matches the quality of the meters, testing strips and lancets provided.
If the blood glucose or glucose & ketone meter you are using does not meet the quality standards set by NHS England or if there is one that is more cost-effective for the NHS, your GP practice would like to change it.