Diabetes in adults quality standard
Quality statement 14: Hypoglycaemia
- Quality statement
- Quality measure
- What the quality statement means for each audience
- Source guidance
- Data source
- Definitions
- Equality and diversity
Quality statement
People with diabetes who have experienced hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention are referred to a specialist diabetes team.
Quality measure
Structure: Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people with diabetes who have experienced hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention are referred to a specialist diabetes team.
Process: Proportion of people with diabetes who have experienced hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention who are referred to a specialist diabetes team.
Numerator – the number of people in the denominator referred to a specialist diabetes team.
Denominator – the number of people with diabetes who have experienced hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention.
Outcome:
a) Reduction in number of people with diabetes requiring medical attention as a result of a hypoglycaemic episode.
b) Reduction in rate of recurrence of an episode of hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention over 12 months.
What the quality statement means for each audience
Service providers ensure adequate provision for referral to a specialist diabetes team for people with diabetes who have experienced hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention.
Healthcare professionals ensure people with diabetes who have experienced hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention are referred to a specialist diabetes team.
Commissioners ensure they commission services that have clearly defined protocols to identify all people with diabetes who have experienced hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention and refer them to a specialist diabetes team.
People with diabetes are seen by a specialist diabetes team for advice and support after experiencing low blood sugar needing medical attention (for example, from a GP, paramedic, accident and emergency department or out-of-hours services).
Source guidance
NICE clinical guideline 15 recommendations 1.9.5.5 and 1.9.5.7.
Data source
Structure: Local data collection. DiabetesE collects data on hypoglycaemia.
Process: Local data collection.
Outcome: a) and b) Local data collection.
Definitions
'Hypoglycaemia requiring medical attention' refers to an episode of severe hypoglycaemia that requires treatment by a GP, paramedics, accident and emergency department or out-of-hours services.
Equality and diversity
All information about treatment and care, including advice on avoiding hypoglycaemia, should take into account age and social factors, language, accessibility, physical, sensory or learning difficulties, and should be ethnically and culturally appropriate. It should also be accessible to people who do not speak or read English. If needed, people with diabetes should have access to an interpreter or advocate.