Successful SPOC referral for diabetes patient

A referral to the new diabetes pathway by an EEAST crew has resulted in a patient and his wife feeling much more confident about managing the condition in the future.

An 80-year-old man in our region missed a meal after an increase in his prescription for Metformin with Gliclazide, which stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin, and his wife called 999 when he had a hypoglycaemia episode. He had never gone into hypoglycaemia before.

The crew who attended were able to leave the patient at home and made a referral to SPOC, which was followed up with a session with a clinical diabetes educator.

The educator went through his condition, the reasons for the increase in his medication and explained how it had the effect it did. It also resulted in the patient being given a blood glucose monitor and a training session organised with a practice nurse for him and his wife.

The couple were extremely grateful for the help and support and both have said they are feeling more confident in managing the situation themselves if it occurs again.

Published 16th May 2015