Uptake low on free diabetes check-up

Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems facing New Zealand, yet only half of diagnosed diabetics have their free annual check-up.

Our decades of rising obesity are catching up with us and the prevalence of diabetes is rising faster than would be expected from population growth and the country's rising average age.

Detection has improved, all of which has led to an 8.4 per cent increase in a year. It is estimated that 200,000 people have been diagnosed - mainly with type 2 diabetes, which is associated with obesity - and a further 100,000 are thought to have the disease but have not been diagnosed.

The free annual Get Checked programme in primary care for diabetics began in 2000, but the uptake has been low. In the last June year just half of diagnosed diabetics took part.

DHBs are tracking uptake this year at about the same level, well short of the 66 per cent target.

The Auditor-General's Office said concerns remained about the scheme, such as insufficient monitoring to ensure the quality and consistency of the treatment plans made with patients.

Health Minister Tony Ryall's DHB league tables, published for the first time this week, covered July, August and September. But the results were complicated by being being rolled into a composite figure covering diabetes control and cardiovascular risk assessments.

The Health Ministry website, however, shows that DHBs collectively, despite failing on Get Checked, have met the other sub-targets: that 83 per cent of diagnosed diabetics have satisfactory diabetes control; and 69 per cent of adults in the eligible age groups have had a cardiovascular disease risk assessment in the last five years.

Of the 21 DHBs, Waitemata came sixth nationally with a composite result of 69 per cent for the three sub-targets, Waikato 11th, Auckland 18th and Counties Manukau 20th on 59 per cent. Auckland DHB is tracking towards achieving only 36 per cent on Get Checked.

Ministry chief clinical adviser Sandy Dawson said: "We are chasing a moving target. We have to keep ahead of this epidemic. It's a big ask."