A review of a self-prescribed medication regime in undiagnosed diabetes

Traditionally, emergency responses were largely focused on accident or trauma-related incidents. However, an ageing and more sedentary population, often presenting with comorbidities, make adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and drug interactions (DIs) an increasingly likely cause. Rapid developments in the pharmaceutical industry also associate presentations with poly-pharmacy incidents. Therefore, the healthcare industry is seeing a changing paradigm in causes for emergency calls, often including the complexities of pharmacology (Martin, 2012).

Medications in the UK have clear regulatory laws that are governed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This is an executive agency of the Department of Health (MHRA, 2014). The formal regulation of medical devices began in the 1990s by a European-wide initiative. This was instigated by the medication thalidomide, used to treat morning sickness; however, it had severe unpredicted birth defects. Now medications must first be considered safe, i.e. the benefits outweigh the side effects caused, and then licensed or given marketing authorisation (MHRA, 2014). Licences for medicines are granted only when a product meets high standards of safety, quality and works for the purpose intended. The regulatory system also imposes rigorous standards on medicines manufacturers and wholesale dealers who trade in them (MHRA, 2012).