Burstow wants to see Action Today, Health Tomorrow for people with diabetes

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 16th May 2005

Local MP Paul Burstow is adding his support to Diabetes UK's campaign to improve NHS healthcare for people living with diabetes in Sutton and Cheam.

Diabetes is a serious progressive condition affecting 1.8 million people who are diagnosed in the UK. A further million probably have the condition without realising. Diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and lower-limb amputation.

The only way to tackle diabetes effectively is to take action early. This is the key element in the charity's Action Today, Health Tomorrow campaign.

In order to ensure that the NHS is providing the best care possible, Diabetes UK is focusing on three core areas where action now can make a difference.

• All people with diabetes will be provided with the education they need to enable them to manage their condition on a day-to-day basis.

• All people with diabetes will have their eyes fully checked at least once a year.

• All children with diabetes will be provided with access to local, high quality, specialist care.

Paul Burstow MP is supporting Action Today, Health Tomorrow because it is important that Primary Care Trusts are delivering the best diabetes care in Sutton and Cheam.

He commented: 'This campaign launched by Diabetes UK reflects Liberal Democrat thinking about how best to tackle diabetes. A greater emphasis on screening as part of an overall preventative approach is at the core of Liberal Democrat health policy. We would restore annual eye checks for adults and encourage people with long term conditions like diabetes to take an active role in decisions about how and when they are treated. I am pleased to be able to give the Action Today, Health Tomorrow Campaign my full support.'