Aims: Alongside a rising prevalence of known diabetes, patterns of care for diabetes have been changing in the United Kingdom. The aim of this study is to describe the changes in the prevalence of known diabetes and shift in site of care of patients in a single health district over a 10-year period.
Methods: Repeat cross-sectional study over 10 years of patients with diabetes resident in North Tyneside district.
Results: The crude prevalence of known diabetes in North Tyneside rose from 1.1 to 3.0% between 1991 and 2001. The proportion of patients receiving their diabetes care wholly in primary care rose significantly from 608/2236 (27%) in 1991 to 3995/5809 (69%) in 2001 (chi(2) = 968, 1 d.f., P < 0.001). The number of patients attending secondary care also rose by 14% over this period of time from 1508 to 1712 patients.
Conclusions: Most of the extra workload of the rising prevalence of diabetes has been met in primary care. However, hospital care has not seen a drop in workload. This has important implications for health care planning, as an increase in resources will be required within both primary and secondary care to meet the needs of the diabetic population.