GEOGRAPHICAL MAPPING OF DIABETIC-PATIENTS FROM THE DEPRIVED INNER-CITY SHOWS LESS INSULIN THERAPY AND MORE HYPERGLYCEMIA

To determine whether or not economic and social deprivation were assoc iated with different diabetic treatment and metabolic control, data of patients from deprived inner city wards and prosperous wards were com pared. A database was obtained for 1528 patients attending our hospita l Diabetes Care Centre. Demographic data and postcodes were used to co nstruct geographical maps of disease and deprivation. Blood glucose an d glycated haemoglobin were measured. Inner city patients were less li kely to be taking insulin, but if they were, they were more likely to have higher blood glucose values (p = 0.02) and higher glycated haemog lobin values (p = 0.02), compared to patients from prosperous wards. I nsulin-treated patients from socially and economically deprived wards had worse diabetic control than patients from more prosperous wards. T he study emphasizes the needs to target deprived patients for educatio n and motivation to understand diabetes, and to optimize metabolic con trol.