Diabetes is a growing concern for the NHS. Type 2 diabetes treatment costs the NHS £8.8 billion a year in England, almost 9 per cent of the annual budget.1 The level of commissioned community pharmacy involvement in diabetes awareness or management programmes varies, but this may start to change.

Public Health England has recently published a guide for commissioners on community pharmacy’s potential role in public health,2 and commissioners are being asked to ensure the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme’ (NHS DPP) is fully rolled out. There is also a drive to promote uptake of the NHS Health Check, and an increased emphasis on lifestyle interventions to prevent diabetes developing in at risk people.3,4

Community pharmacy teams may therefore want to consider stepping up their role around diabetes. This CPD article looks at the context and opportunities, particularly around risk reduction and prevention, to build a case to take to service commissioners.