Diabetes care for adults with learning disabilities is not optimal

Adults with learning disabilities and diabetes are more likely to have health problems than people with diabetes who do not have learning disabilities, according to new research.

The study published in the British Journal of Learning Disabilities identified 12 barriers to optimal diabetes care for adults with learning disabilities. This included a low level of diabetes knowledge and understanding as well as systems that do not allow reasonable adjustments.

The research had two aims. One was to find out what stops adults with learning disabilities from getting help with their diabetes. The other was to find out what things help them get the best care for their diabetes.

Key databases were searched using relevant terms reviewing barriers and enablers to optimal diabetes care exist for adults with learning disabilities. Included studies were synthesised using thematic analysis and were quality appraised.

Barriers and enablers to optimal diabetes care

The study found that barriers to optimum care from published studies included formal or informal caregivers lacking diabetes knowledge and understanding, community living arrangements and lack of accessible information.

Enablers to good care included autonomy facilitated by the caregiver, motivation to self-manage the condition, close relatives with diabetes, peer support, and a high level of diabetes knowledge and understanding.

The authors said that policy reports from NHS RightCare and Diabetes UK demonstrated an important step towards embedding person-centred reasonable adjustments within services across the UK.

They added that the widespread uptake of the reasonable adjustments presented in both reports is a further opportunity to improve care.

It was recommended that staff and caregiver training be provided to address the need for patient autonomy in diabetes self-management. This could be provided as part of structured education programmes or as part of a separate educational package targeting professionals and caregivers.

Alison Bloomer

Alison Bloomer is Editor of Learning Disability Today. She has over 25 years of experience writing for medical journals and trade publications. Subjects include healthcare, pharmaceuticals, disability, insurance, stock market and emerging technologies. She is also a mother to a gorgeous 13-year-old boy who has a learning disability.

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