Shocking. People with Type 1 diabetes in Scotland are angry, upset and outraged. IPAG is working hard to get the decision reversed.

20 April 2026 Dear Foysol, Thank you for your email of 7 April 2026 on behalf of one of your constituents with their concerns about funding for diabetes technologies. The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting access to clinically appropriate, safe and effective diabetes care, including the use of technology where this is in line with clinical guidance and individual need. This commitment is set out in the Scottish Government’s Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in 2021 and concluded in March this year. It included a specific focus on expanding access to diabetes technologies. This is reflected in sustained investment since 2016. In total, the Scottish Government has invested over £50 million to support access to diabetes technologies, including £29.6 million between 2016 and 2022, £8.8 million in 2024-25 to expand access to closed loop systems, and £14.6 million in 2025 -26 to support onboarding and to meet the recurring costs of consumables for people using this technology. Current position on Closed Loop Systems Closed Loop Systems are now an established part of diabetes care for people with Type 1 diabetes in Scotland. National clinical guidance, including NICE and SIGN, sets out the expectation that this technology should be offered to people who are likely to benefit from it based on clinical assessment. The Scottish Government funding has supported the expansion of access to closed loop systems over recent years, and funding has now been baselined within NHS Boards’ allocations to ensure that the ongoing costs of consumables for people currently using a closed loop system will continue to be met. In line with this approach, the Scottish Government is not providing further centrally held funding specifically for expansion and is instead focusing on working with NHS Boards to embed closed loop systems as a business as usual part of Type 1 diabetes care.

This includes commissioning a rapid value case to support consideration of future decisions through established NHS Scotland governance arrangements. NHS funding arrangements and accountability Funding for NHS services, including diabetes care and associated technologies, is agreed through the annual budget process and allocated to NHS Boards through established funding mechanisms. Where time limited, targeted funding has been provided in previous years to support national expansion or capacity, this has at times been accompanied by specific announcements. Where funding is incorporated within Boards’ overall allocations, it is managed through routine financial processes and does not typically involve separate ministerial announcements. Decisions on how funding is deployed locally are taken by NHS Boards, working within national policy frameworks, clinical guidance, and professional standards. Boards are expected to ensure that decisions are clinically led and based on individual patient need, rather than cost alone, and to work to minimise unwarranted variation in access across Scotland. Supporting equitable access The Scottish Government continues to work with NHS Boards and national partners to support equitable access to diabetes technologies and to reduce unwarranted variation where possible, including through national clinical networks and support arrangements designed to improve consistency of delivery. Existing users of approved diabetes technologies should continue to receive care based on clinical assessment and need. The Scottish Government recognises ongoing concerns about variation in access and continues to work within available resources and established NHS structures to support people living with diabetes across Scotland. I hope this response addresses the points raised by your constituent and helps clarify the current arrangements for funding and access to diabetes technologies. Yours sincerely, JENNI MINTO

Our college got their MSP @foysolchoudhury.bsky.social to ask about the withdrawal of funding for Diabetes tech this is the shocking response from @jennimintomsp.bsky.social

A close-up of a hybrid closed-loop insulin pump.

29th and 30th April: Free Online Course - "Understanding Type 1 Diabetes and Technology"

My Way Digital Health is running a free online course covering some of the technology associated with diabetes care.

You can register for the course, for free, here:
understandingtype1.mydiabetes.com

Fears diabetes tech rollout is about to stall A move to end central funding for life changing diabetes technologies, adding it instead to the annual budgets of Scotland

Article from @healthandcare.scot discussing the changes to the funding for Diabetes Tech in Scotland www.healthandcare.scot/mobile_defau...

A woman with a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) puck attached to her arm looks at her phone.

mydiabetes*myway offer courses that you can sign-up to at any time and complete when it suits you.

Our courses are free and open to everyone - even if you do not have diabetes. They cover T1DM & T2DM management and devices that you may now be using.

elearning.mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/courses/

Access to life-changing diabetes technology risks stalling in Scotland Access to life-changing diabetes technology risks stalling in Scotland

Statement from The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh with a comment from Professor Mark Strachan a diabetes consultant.

www.rcpe.ac.uk/news/access-...

Urgent Alert: Changes to Diabetes Technology Funding in Scotland The Scottish Government has announced a significant change in how diabetes technology is funded. As of April 2026, the current model, whereby the money for insulin pumps and sensors is allocated to a central fund, will cease, with the funding instead being devolved to individual Health Board budgets. This will effectively remove its "ring-fenced" status, abandoning the commitment, made as recently as January 2025, to provide this life-changing technology to those with Type 1 Diabetes. Decentralising the funding for diabetes technologies will create a postcode lottery, and put at risk the recent progress in T1D care. What Are The Risks? Reduced Access - We anticipate a sharp decline in new pump starts. Increased Inequality - Patients in different Health Board areas will face vastly different levels of care. Long-term Health Costs - By limiting access to closed-loop technology, the NHS is effectively choosing to pay in the future for for the treatment of preventable long term complications (eye, heart, kidney, and limb issues) rather than investing in the technology that would prevent them. Scotland cannot afford to fall behind the rest of the UK. While NHS England is moving forward with a 5-year implementation plan for Diabetes technologies, Scotland is dismantling its own infrastructure. Our Demand. We are calling for formal legislation to ensure that “SIGN 170” is fully adhered to. Access to diabetes technology must be a right, not a discretionary budget item. We are contacting the Scottish Government and national charities to demand accountability. We urge you to use your voice! Contact your local representatives today to voice your opposition to this change in funding.

We made such progress in Diabetes Care but now funding is being changed. This will result in fewer patients receiving tech and create another postcode lottery.

#T1D #GBDoc #DiabetesTechCantWait

People with diabetes can complain about poor sleep: it is worthwhile to speak to your diabetes healthcare team if your sleep pattern is erratic as they may be able to suggest some solutions.

More information on sleep & diabetes is available below:
www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-dia...

I live in the constituency he hopes to represent. He’s got it so wrong. He won’t get my vote.

increase even more if you are female.

www.gla.ac.uk/news/archive...

This is why we need access to Diabetes Tech that suits the patient as per the guidance of SIGN 170. 2/2

www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/o...

Excess risks were particularly pronounced in women, with those diagnosed before age 10 facing a 60-fold higher risk of heart disease (0.48 cases per 100,000 person years for participants with diabetes vs 0.02 cases in every 100,000 person-years for controls) and 90-times increased risk of heart attack than matched controls (0.25 vs 0.01). In comparison, men with young-onset diabetes have a 17 times greater risk of developing heart disease and 15 times higher risk of having a heart attack in early adulthood compared to those in the general population (0.53 vs 0.05 and 0.36 vs 0.03). These estimates for early-onset disease are substantially higher than recent estimates by the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association, which do not consider age of onset as a risk stratifier, and report that women with type 1 diabetes are at seven times increased risk and men at three times the risk of developing heart disease.

Interesting research carried out in Scotland about undiagnosed heart failure in people with all types of Diabetes.

news.stv.tv/scotland/lar...

Why is it interesting? If you are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes before you hit puberty your chances of heart complications 1/2

Living with or at risk of type 2 diabetes in Scotland Join us to learn more about type 2 diabetes prevention, remission and treatment including weight loss in Scotland. Expert panel Q&A.

Diabetes Scotland is hosting a type 2 diabetes webinar on Wed 1st April: 6pm - 7.30pm.

The webinar will cover Type 2 prevention, remission, and new medications. Attendees can also submit questions ahead of the event during a Q&A.

To register, visit: type2diabetesinscotland.eventbrite.co.uk

The ReachDeck accessibility icon.

A reminder that we have added new translation features: you will notice, at the bottom right of our website, that there is a new icon for ReachDeck.

This is a new feature that lets you convert our website into over 300 languages and also have any pages read aloud to you.

A dentist inspects a patient's mouth. The dentist is wearing Personal Protective Equipment, while the patient is sat in a dentist's chair.

March 20th is World Oral Health Day.
For those with diabetes, high blood sugars can increase the risk of gum disease and infection. Brush and floss regularly to maintain a healthy mouth.

More details are below:
mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/ex...

mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/ex...

Why is a US spyware firm anywhere near our medical data?

Stumbled across this:
The root of "female" has nothing to do with "male". It derives from the Mediaeval Latin femella, a diminutive of femina, a woman. It was mistakenly transcribed in Middle English as "female", perhaps creating the impression that a woman is a version/variant/ subset of a man.

Lucy may be a fossil but she has feelings and personality

In less than 2 months Lucy will have been in the world for a year.

At the end of this month I will be taking her to Scottish Association of Writers(SAW) annual conference.

You can also buy Lucy's poetry from

www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Lucy+Unc...

kelsaybooks.com/products/luc...

Preventing Cardiovascular Disease Free online course: 18th March 2026. Closes 23rd March 2026. Includes Live Q&A session on 18th March at 6pm. Register today at user.mydiabetes.com

Join MyWay Digital Health's free online course on Preventing Cardiovascular Disease from 18th - 23rd March 2026!

➡️ Registration is now open: user.mydiabetes.com
Course availability:
• Open from Wednesday 18 March to Monday 23 March 2026
• Live Q&A session: 18 March at 6pm

The Scrap Heap

The Scrap Heap www.wikiart.org/en/stanley-spencer/the-s...

Thoughts. Suspect the charities gave too much info to the MPs about HCL & ELSA, these are great tools in T1 care.

However, they are of no use when you are told it’s tonsillitis & your child is slowly dying in DKA & not offering a finger prick test.

#LylasLaw #TestDontGuess #GBDoc

Dear MP I am from IPAG (Insulin Pump Awareness Group) Scotland. We are a small group of Type 1 Diabetics that campaign in Scotland for improvement in our care. We have over 350 years of lived experience between us. We are asking you to stand for Type 1 Diabetics in the UK. We are asking you to attend Lyla’s Law debate on the 9th March. This will take place in Westminster Hall covering the petition 728677, “Funding so all infants are offered Type 1 Diabetes Testing in routine care.” If you are unaware, Lyla Story attended the GP presenting with the 4Ts: Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner but was sent home with a tonsillitis diagnosis and died 16 hours later. Lyla was in DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) this is when there is little or no insulin being produced resulting in blood glucose levels rising to dangerously high levels. For energy the body burns its fat storage producing ketones. This in turn causes the body to become acidic and the body starts to shut down. Unless insulin is administered immediately this will normally result in death. IPAG Scotland join John & Emma Story in asking that anyone, no matter their age, presenting with the 4Ts is offered a finger prick to check their blood glucose levels. A finger prick test takes 5 seconds to complete and costs less than 10p and more importantly it could save a life. It is my understanding that both Breakthrough T1D and Diabetes UK will provide briefings before the debate. If you wish to discuss anything about living with Type 1 Diabetes IPAG are more than happy to assist. Kind regards IPAG Scotland

Thanks to the dedicated work of John Story a debate will take place in @houseofcommons.parliament.uk at 6pm tonight to discuss #LyalasLaw

Please see the below letter @ipagscot.bsky.social Scot sent to all 57 Scottish MPs. For more info & to watch the debate use the link in the comments.
#T1D

#GBDoc #DiabetesChat

Delighted to say we are now on BlueSky campaigning to improve Type 1 Diabetes Care across Scotland and the UK. #T1D

MyWay Digital Health are providing a free "Diabetes and Ramadan" course. This course is available in English, Arabic and Malay.

This course covers guidance on managing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes while fasting.

The course is open for registration below:
user.mydiabetes.com

I joined The Green Party at the beginning of this year, my first party membership. Every time I see something new from Zack I'm more and more glad I made this decision

Exercise is great for your health, but it will impact your blood sugar. If you are thinking about more exercise, please speak to your healthcare team.

Exercise & Physical Activity: mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/in...

Diabetes & Exercise Video: mydiabetesmyway.scot.nhs.uk/resources/vi...

A family breaks the Ramadan fast together.

My Way Digital Health is providing free courses to support the management of diabetes during Ramadan for our Muslim community, or anyone wanting to learn more.

These courses are available in English, Arabic and Malay until 19 March.

Register for free: ramadan.mydiabetes.com

It brought tears to my eyes. I wish we had you in Scotland Zac.

Its a great tool for people with diabetes in Scotland - with loads of useful info and resources including personal stuff like prescription meds, results etc.