Diabetes mellitus type I. Results of a European questionaire

An anonymous questionaire concerning diabetes type I was circulated through (Young) AEMIE members. Questions were asked regarding available facilities, diagnosis, follow-up and therapy. One hundred and six completed questionaires were available for study: most were from 5 countries, i.e. 20 from the Netherlands (NL), 26 from Great Britain (GB), 16 from France (F), 16 (+2) from Belgium (B) (+ Luxemburg = LUX) and 19 from Ireland (IRL). There was a preponderance of general internists and internist/diabetologists. In Great Britain significantly more participants were internist/diabetologists and they treated significantly more patients than other participants. They also had access to more facilities, especially diabetes nurses. Most patients appeared to perform bloodglucose measurements; only 10 p. 100 of the patients did not measure glucose in blood or urine at all. There is general acceptance that bloodglucose regulation should be as tight as possible. The allowance of sugar under certain conditions was mostly permitted in the Benelux countries. The use of insulin pens exceeded that of insulin pumps. The preference for pens was primarily related to convenience for patient and doctor and low cost. The main indication for their use was bad regulation. This study confirms the impression that there is an increased interest in patient education (i.e. diabetes nurses, educational programmes and home blood glucose monitoring) amongst European physicians and a trend towards using new devices such as insulin pens and pumps in an effort to achieve a tighter blood sugar control.