The Manx Diabetic Group marked World Diabetes Day on Tuesday with the launch of a new website offering information and support to people who live with diabetes on the Isle of Man.

Its aims include raising awareness of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

There are some 4,500 people with the condition on the island.

Volunteer Natasha Parry has been building the charity’s social media presence.

She said: ’We wanted the website to highlight what we do as a charity and give diabetics, their families and anybody who wants information about us a place to go.

’We are also growing our social media accounts and have had some fantastic feedback in our latest campaigns. For the new website, we worked with local developer Ryan Holdaway of Clean Slate, who helped us with our vision and has created something we hope will be a valuable source of information and interaction.’

The Manx Diabetic Group has taken part in the public consultation on prescription charges and is presently campaigning for sensor technology to be introduced on the NHS to replace finger prick blood testing.

The sensors, which represent the next step forward in blood glucose monitoring, are now available on the NHS in the UK.

On World Diabetes Day, the issue was raised in the House of Keys by Garff MHK Daphne Caine, who asked Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft whether her department planned to match UK NHS standards for the provision of diabetic blood glucose monitoring systems.

Libre sensors (or continuous glucose monitoring as described by Mrs Beecroft on Tuesday) have been approved by NICE for use on the NHS in the UK.

Presently in the Isle of Man the sensors can be bought by individuals direct from the manufacturer and the Manx Diabetic Group charity has funded some for use at the discretion of the diabetes clinic at Noble’s Hospital.

Joanne Clague, Manx Diabetic Group chair, said: ’The Health Minister is correct in saying that sensor technology should be considered only for a small minority of diabetic patients.

’This would be type 1s and women with gestational diabetes, and these make up about 10% of all diabetics.

’She also said current evidence was not sufficient to justify the considerable cost but we don’t yet know how the cost compares against finger prick testing. That’s why a business case needs to be made, and that needs to come from the team of experts at the diabetes centre in Noble’s Hospital.

’Anecdotally, we know that this new technology gives better control of blood glucose levels and has a huge impact on quality of life for type 1 diabetics, which include children and young adults.’

www.manxdiabeticgroup.im