The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

SCOTTISH DIABETES SURVEY 2002

ANNEX B
Scottish Study Group for the Care of Diabetes in the Young

The Scottish Study Group for the Care of Diabetes in the Young was established in 1985 to encourage co-operation amongst paediatricians and adult physicians responsible for the care of young people with diabetes. The original and still primary aim of the SSG is to improve the care of, and outcomes for, young people with diabetes. To do this, it has the following objectives:

• To provide a programme of continuing medical education.

• To provide a forum in which paediatricians and physicians can have informal discussions of problems and solutions, for example relating to the transition from paediatric to adult clinics.

• The maintenance of an informal but effective clinical network covering all the main centres in Scotland.

• A research programme which is internationally credible and which achieves publications in respected journals.

• To provide a non-threatening but stimulating training setting for guest presentations by junior medical staff and colleagues from other disciplines.

• To create a pressure group to press for improvements in diabetes services in Scotland in liaison with Diabetes UK and the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Paediatrics and Child Health.

• To provide for informal debates with the pharmaceutical industry.

• To provide a confidential setting for collaborative audits such as DIABAUD.

• To be a source of professional advice and statistics in relation to matters concerning the care of young people with diabetes in Scotland.

An important part of the SSG's work has been to maintain a central register of all existing and newly presenting patients <15 years with Type 1 diabetes. Using this data, supplemented by other sources, the SGG have been able to calculate the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children. This study showed that incidence has trebled over the last 30 years and that incidence is highest in northern rural areas highest. Review of the literature shows that Scottish incidence is high in international terms.

Age-standardised incidence rate per 100,000 by Health Board 1984-2000

« Previous | Contents | Next »