IT?IS sometimes the case that people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes come away from appointments with health professionals feeling confused about their treatment or it may be that they haven't asked the questions they wanted to ask. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as 'I didn't want to bother the doctor' or 'Once I was there, I forgot to ask', and many more.

We are a registered charity and our latest free newsletter, for people using Insulin and for people with Type 2 diabetes on diet and tablets, aim to give people information and support so that they can get the most out of their appointments with their healthcare professionals. There are tips on how to manage the actual appointment or consultation effectively, your rights as a patient, the standards of care you should expect and what to do if things go wrong.

We are all facing changes to the NHS with the government's reforms, much of which many of us don't understand, so it is important that we have this information if we are to make sure that we receive the high quality care and treatment that we have been promised and to which we are entitled.

We are happy to send out these free newsletters to readers if they contact the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) on 01604 622837, email [email protected]">[email protected] or write to IDDT, PO Box 294, Northampton NN1 4XS.

– Jenny Hirst.