The national diabetes experience survey

Navigating the landscape of diabetes care demands a comprehensive understanding of both clinical data and patient experience. While the National Diabetes Audit (NDA) offers valuable insights into diabetes management, it falls short in capturing the lived experiences of individuals. Enter the National Diabetes Experience Survey, bridging this gap and shedding light on the qualitative dimensions of diabetes care. For practice managers, this survey presents a golden opportunity to glean insights that can inform tailored strategies, ensuring that diabetes care meets the diverse needs of patients and fosters enhanced quality of care within healthcare settings

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on NHS England

The National Diabetes Experience Survey is poised to revolutionise diabetes care by amplifying the voices of those living with the condition.

The power of codesign

 Codesigning with individuals living with diabetes has been instrumental in shaping the National Diabetes Experience Survey, prioritising issues that matter most to those with firsthand experience. We, along with our lived experience partners, affirm that codesign is pivotal in crafting a pertinent and effective survey. Moreover, an extensive qualitative research study involving approximately 150 individuals living with diabetes has enriched the questionnaire’s content. These insights, coupled with survey results, will foster a comprehensive understanding of people’s experiences.

Survey methodology

From March 2024, around 105,000 people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes will be invited to take part in the National Diabetes Experience Survey.

The survey aims to measure experiences of diabetes care and self-management, providing data that can be analysed by different demographic groups and type of diabetes to understand any inequalities in experiences. The data will also be used to develop a segmentation of people living with diabetes, based on the attitudes and behaviours reported through the survey. The segmentation aims to identify the needs of different groups of people living with diabetes, so that in turn, we can tailor services and support to meet these needs. In addition, data from the survey will be brought together with other secondary datasets, such as the NDA, aiming to develop an understanding of the link between experiences and outcomes.

From Autumn 2024, the results will be published at national, Integrated Care Board (ICB), and sub-ICB level. The survey is poised to aid NHS England in comprehending variations in care experiences and outcomes, shaping policy development, and commissioning practices. Designed to capture what truly matters to individuals living with diabetes, this survey heralds a paradigm shift in diabetes care.

The National Diabetes Experience Survey stands as a pivotal step towards understanding and addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals living with diabetes. By harnessing the power of patient voices and collaborating with key stakeholders, this survey offers a pathway towards more inclusive and effective diabetes care, ultimately driving positive outcomes and improvements in healthcare delivery.