Implementation advice: health inequalities in type 2 diabetes
Reasonable adjustments
Some people face challenges managing complex regimens or multiple appointments. This includes people with learning disabilities, dementia or severe mental illness. Physical difficulties such as swallowing or handling medicines can also make certain formulations or treatment approaches less suitable.
Why this matters
Without tailored adjustments, people may be unable to use recommended medicines safely, increasing the risk of complications.
What you can do
Actions for providers and healthcare professionals
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Equip staff to recognise the factors leading to unequal care by accessing training, particularly on risk-perception challenges, unconscious bias and recognising diagnostic overshadowing (when a person's symptoms are wrongly attributed to an existing condition).
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Maintain simple, non-digital routes for accessing care by ensuring people have non-digital options for booking appointments, education and monitoring.
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Streamline pathways where possible by avoiding multiple unnecessary visits and coordinating tasks.
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Tailor treatment to individual needs by offering alternatives such as different formulations and adapting care plans for people with cognitive or communication challenges.
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Use flags in clinical systems by recording and updating reasonable adjustment needs in systems. Ensure disabilities are clearly identified and shared across the care team.
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Adapt appointment structures by offering longer appointments or clinician continuity for people needing more support.
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Work with carers and support networks by involving them (with consent) to support safe medicine use.
Actions for commissioners
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Equip staff to recognise the factors leading to unequal care by supporting staff to access training.
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Maintain simple, non-digital routes for accessing care by ensuring non-digital options are available for booking appointments, education and monitoring.
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Streamline pathways where possible by supporting opportunities for task coordination.
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