DOCTORS in Southampton are spearheading a pioneering blueprint which will revolutionise care for diabetes patients in hospitals.

Clinicians at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust have drawn up a new set of standards for medical and nursing staff to ensure those suffering the chronic condition get the specialist help they need.

It is the latest in a raft of programmes to combat the illness which already costs the NHS £8.8bn and is one of the biggest challenges facing the already stretched health service.

Figures reveal up to 20 per cent of adult patients in UK hospitals are diabetic - a condition which affects the body’s ability to process sugar – glucose – and means they may require insulin or tablets to regulate blood sugar levels.

As previously reported 12,000 people in Southampton are diabetic and the city named as the seventh worst for limb amputations stemming from the illness, according to research from Diabetes UK..

Although some patients are admitted as a direct result of diabetes, many require treatment for unrelated health problems and are cared for by staff without the expertise to manage the condition alongside other illnesses, increasing the risk of insulin or medication errors.

Now clinicians have launched a new set of diabetes standards they want to roll out across hospital wards for all staff.

The new standards begin with staff posting the ‘ThinkGlucose’ logo on patient status boards to identify people with the condition.

Clinicians are expected to manages low blood sugar levels, known as hypoglycaemia, and set up referrals to the hospital's inpatient diabetes team.

The team - which includes five specialist nurses, a research dietician, an advanced specialist pharmacist and a lead consultant - reviews patients and provides advice for staff, patients and families.

Doctors and nurses should also carry out foot disease assessments within 24 hours of admission and that insulin or oral medications are given at mealtimes.

The blue print has been drawn up by the hospitals lead consultant in diabetes Dr Mayank Patel.

Dr Patel, who named as a local champion by Diabetes UK for his work, said: "We know almost a quarter of all adult patients in UK hospitals have diabetes at any one time and patients can spend anywhere between an additional three to five days in hospital if their condition is neglected.

"The introduction of simple and clear minimum standards of care for all adult patients with diabetes will give clinicians and their patients the best foundation to provide the right care for the duration of a hospital admission.”

He also urges NHS trusts to use IT "more smartly" to boost online training packages and smart phone and tablet apps such DiAppBetes which he developed in Southampton with Dr Sanjay Gupta.

DiAppBetes, which has recently been updated and is the most comprehensive diabetes support app available to clinicians, provides key information to help support non-specialist doctors and nurses treating patients with the condition.

View the standards at uhs.nhs.uk/diabetes-standards-of-care