Details of the NDST current work areas: year of care, children and young people, information, supporting self care of diabetes, user involvement, research and evaluation, service improvement, inequalities.

Information about the care choices available to people self-managing a long-term condition, provided by the Department of Health through NHS Choices.

Department of Health guidance to support to commissioners in this area.

Guidance led by Diabetes UK on the treatment of employees with diabetes in the Fire and Rescue Service.

Have you explored the NHS Choices website yet? The NHS Choices website aims to provide a single public "front door" for patients to all NHS online information and services. Many new items created by NHS Choices containing information for patients about diabetes have been added to the library this week. Locate these new items by typing "NHS Choices" in the search box.

The November issue of Dr Roger Gadsby's "interesting new papers" series is now available.

A consensus statement from The American Diabetes Association, European Association for the Study of Diabetes, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, and the International Diabetes Federation stating that A1C test results should be standardized worldwide, including the reference system and results reporting. Published September 2007.

New teaching letters from the Diabetes Education Study Group, of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes: Number 30:Assessing and improving quality in diabetes education Number 33:Patient education issues and diabetes in pregnancy Number 34:Nutrition for the child and adolescent with diabetes Number 35:Carbohydrate counting Number 36:Visualized Discussion: What it is and how it can be used in diabetes education

From DARE - abstract of this review originally published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2004.

New from DARE - abstract of this review titled: "The development of new-onset type 2 diabetes associated with choosing a calcium channel blocker compared to a diuretic or beta-blocker". Originally published in Current medical research and opinion in June 2007

New from DARE - abstract of this review titled:"Tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus without left ventricular systolic dysfunction or clinical evidence of heart failure: a pooled meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials". Originally published in June 2008 in Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism.

2008 update to the American Diabetes Association National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education. Published Jan 2008.

New position statement from Diabetes UK. Published October 2008.

Position Statement from Diabetes UK on continuous glucose monitoring. Pubished September 2008.

Many new patient information items have been added from the Diabetes UK website after their recent website restructuring.

The RCN has relaunched its diabetes website. Aimed at health care staff, carers, patients with diabetes and their families, the resource highlights key issues in diabetes and its management. The updated resource signposts the user to the relevant strategies, guidance and other evidence based resources central to diabetes care across the four UK countries. Other information available on the resource includes case studies and 'patient voices’ which focuses on the perspective of a person with diabetes.

Introduction by the NHS of an integrated programme of vascular risk assessment and management for those aged between 40 and 74.

Figures from the YHPHO estimating the number of deats that could potentially be prevented if the mortality rate among people with diabetes was reduced to that of the population without the disease. Published May 2008.

Estimates from the YHPHO of the prevalence of diabetes among women of child bearing age and estimates of pregnancies among people with diabetes. Published 04 August 2008.

HTA report volume 11, number 17, published May 2007