The Development of IDOP

Launched in May 2008, IDOP has already planned an audit and educational strategy for 2011-12 and is in discussions with both Diabetes UK and the Department of Health to establish ways to enhance the quality of diabetes care, e.g. in care homes and in the area of inequality of health care.

Whilst the initial phase of development is focused around diabetes care issues in Britain, the Institute is actively forming links and partnerships with other key individuals and international organisations worldwide.

The Development of IDOP

The Institute of Diabetes for Older People (IDOP) is a natural development in diabetes care and follows nearly two decades of dedicated diabetes research and policy making by key individuals within the British Diabetic Association (now Diabetes UK), the Special Interest Group of the British Geriatrics Society, the St Vincent Declaration Diabetes Primary Care Group, and the European Diabetes Working Party for Older People.

There is ample proof of the economic, social and health burden of diabetes in the elderly population. Despite this recognition, there has been relative neglect in the medical literature, with few large randomised clinical trials in older diabetic patients. In addition, there is little evidence of structured diabetes care in many national diabetes care systems and virtually no specific provision for those who are housebound or in institutional care.

Various surveys suggest evidence of inequalities in diabetes care which may be due to variations in clinical practice, particularly in relation to older people. This may be manifest as lack of access to services, inadequate specialist provision, poorer clinical outcomes and patient and family dissatisfaction.

Enhancing patient safety will be an a priori issue for IDOP since it is recognised that safe management is often compromised by inappropriate treatment choice, suboptimal specialist follow up, and patient-centred issues such as the development of cognitive dysfunction or depressive illness, both of which are more common in older people.

Set against this background, it can seen clearly that there are several major challenges for IDOP in its goal to promote high quality diabetes care and improve clinical outcomes of all older people with diabetes.