12 June 2020

This week (8-12 June 2020) marks Diabetes Awareness week.

Approximately four million people have a diabetes diagnosis (either type one or type two) but there are many who are still undiagnosed.

This year’s theme is #TheBigPicture.

#TheBigPicture is about highlighting the effects diabetes has on someone’s life on a daily basis, especially during the Covid-19 crisis and the lockdown.

Our Camden Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) makes sure people with diabetes are not isolated or denied access to the help they need throughout the pandemic.
Many of the team were also redeployed to directly support our response to Covid-19.

The Camden IPU team is made up of:

  • CNWL
  • GP Federation Haverstock Health
  • Royal Free Hospital
  • UCLH Hospital

Throughout the pandemic, the team has worked in new ways to continually meet the needs of their patients. This includes

  • Telephone clinics
  •  A new patient telephone line to triage referrals and reduce waiting times
  • Seeing the most vulnerable patients in their own home in a safe way, including those with active foot ulcers. Resulting in the Podiatry Team visiting 50 per cent more patients at home to provide vital podiatry care
  • Support from Camden IPU has also been extended to patients with complex diabetes issues and those new to insulin, with some being post Covid-19 who have been discharged home or to St Pancras sub-acute wards. The Diabetes Specialist Nurses and Dietitian provide an in-reach service for these sub-acute wards
  • District Nurses were also set up with protocol to support family members to safety administer insulin and blood glucose monitoring
  • Patients were also given additional psychological support to address the impact of Covid-19, which can affect their diabetes management.

These changes has helped reduce unnecessary admissions. 

Shantell Naidu, our Diabetes Nurse Consultant commented:

"The pandemic has proven very challenging for everyone. Our the team continue to make sure patients are supported and the experience has opened up new opportunities to learn and further develop our services, once the pandemic has passed."

We encourage everyone to join the conversation on Diabetes, be it online or with members of your household. For more information visit: