Essential facts The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a quality standard on diabetes in children and young people. NICE quality standards describe high-priority areas for improvement and consist of specific, measurable statements designed to achieve better care. Diabetes is becoming more common in the UK. The latest National Paediatric Diabetes Audit says the number of children and young people cared for in children's diabetes units is rising by 4% per year. In 2014-15, the prevalence in England and Wales of type 1 diabetes in those aged 15 and under was 192 per 100,000 of the general population, with slightly more males affected than females. The impact of the disease is far-reaching: as well as having long-term implications for physical health, diabetes can affect school, personal and family life as well.