Changes for People with Diabetes: Improved Access to Nursing Services, Remote Consultations, and More Effective Prevention of Complications
The Ministry of Health has updated the Description of Requirements for the Provision of Nursing Services for People with Diabetes. From now on, patients will have more flexible and convenient access to the support they need from diabetes specialist nurses. They will be able to combine in-person visits with remote consultations and better manage the progression of their condition and associated risks. The requirements have been updated to reflect the latest international recommendations for diabetes care, advances in health technology, and the expanding competencies of diabetes specialist nurses.
Under the updated regulations, the provision of remote consultations with diabetes specialist nurses is being clearly regulated for the first time. The new rules stipulate that up to six consultations with a diabetes specialist nurse per year may be covered by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund, of which up to three may be conducted remotely. However, the first consultation must still take place in person.
“These regulatory changes aim to ensure that people with diabetes receive modern, accessible services that meet their needs. The option to have some consultations with a diabetes specialist nurse remotely will help reduce waiting times for specialist appointments, save patients time, and make it easier for them to balance diabetes self-management with everyday life. At the same time, this will help prevent serious complications and avoidable hospital admissions,” says Minister of Health Linas Kukuraitis.
The updated regulations allow patients to receive consultations using modern audio and video communication technologies, as well as remote consultations with diabetes specialist nurses to discuss the results of blood glucose monitoring.The indications for medical pedicure have also been clarified, and the criteria for diabetic foot care have been expanded. Each year, the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund will cover up to six medical pedicure services and up to 30 diabetic foot care services.
These changes also introduce updated minimum requirements for patient education programmes. The programmes must be structured, informative, easy for patients to understand, and tailored to each individual’s health literacy, psychological characteristics, emotional state, social environment, coexisting medical conditions, motivation, need for behavioural changes, and available self-monitoring technologies. Requirements have also been revised for diabetes specialist nurses’ workplaces in healthcare facilities, including the premises, equipment, and medical devices needed to provide both in-person and remote services.
The updated requirements for nursing services for people with diabetes will take effect on 1 January 2027.