Implementation advice: health inequalities in type 2 diabetes
Overview
Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people. These can result from factors such as socioeconomic status and deprivation, protected characteristics, membership of vulnerable or excluded groups, and where someone lives. These factors often intersect so a person may experience multiple, compounding disadvantages.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in some groups within society. Inequalities extend beyond prevalence to include differences in opportunities to benefit from medicines, access to services and the provision of reasonable adjustments. Causes of inequality include digital exclusion, geographical variations in language support and low health literacy. These disparities influence how people engage with care and the outcomes they experience.
Implementing NICE's guideline on type 2 diabetes can help reduce unwarranted variation by standardising treatment and improving consistency in care. This supports fairer access to effective therapies. NICE's recommendations include:
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offering SGLT-2 inhibitors to most adults
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paying attention to higher‑risk groups
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proving personalised diabetes management plans that include dietary advice and other aspects of healthy living such as increasing physical activity and losing weight
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using inclusive, person‑centred communication
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monitoring uptake across population groups.
You can use the suggested actions in this implementation advice, alongside the guideline, to help you provide equitable care across your local population.
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