Caution over child diabetes figures

Encouraging results from new research conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has found that the average blood glucose level (HbA1C) has fallen for the fifth consecutive year.

The research also found that two thirds (64.9%) of the 27,682 children and young people over the age of 12 with diabetes that attended paediatric diabetes units in England and Wales between April 1 2014 and March 31 2015 participated in eye screening. Just over 13% were found to be at increased risk of blindness.

Despite the reduction in average glucose levels, the research found that only a quarter of 12-year-olds had all seven recommended annual checks. These included measures of growth, blood pressure, kidney function, cholesterol, foot examination and eye screening.