There is no cost effective approach to diabetes in Northern Ireland and not enough training for doctors in detecting depression, according to a new report.
Stormont's Public Accounts Committee has revealed that it costs £1m a day to treat diabetes in Northern Ireland and that only a fifth of diabetes patients received education to treat their condition.
The report indicated that those affected need more advice on monitoring their food intake and exercise levels to prevent blindness, strokes, heart attacks and kidney damage.
The PAC report said: "The potential consequences of not investing in such programmes are increased complications and greater future healthcare costs.
"It seems clear to the committee that this type of educational activity is likely to be cost-effective."
There are around 65,000 adults and 1,000 children with diabetes.
The committee recommended the department consider setting targets to reduce the risk of people developing diabetes, cut the number of undiagnosed people and reduce the proportion of hospital admissions.
A spokeswoman for Diabetes UK Northern Ireland said: "Unfortunately it is a progressive condition and if you can get it earlier there's a much greater chance that you can avoid complications later.
"We would urge the Department of Health to take onboard the recommendations of the report and to increase the provision of structured diabetes education across Northern Ireland."
The report also said only half of GPs in Northern Ireland have training in detecting depression which can lead to suicide.
Sixty-eight doctors' surgeries have not received the special courses despite rapidly rising numbers of suicides.
A total of 282 people took their own life in 2008. The proportion of the population in Northern Ireland with mental health problems is a quarter higher than England, according to the committee.
Its dossier said: "The committee notes that 68 GP practices have yet to receive depression-awareness training and recommends that this deficit is addressed urgently."
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