Thousands 'unaware they have diabetes'
THOUSANDS of Doncaster residents could unknowingly be suffering from a form of diabetes, experts said today.
Diabetes UK estimates around 3,000 people in the borough are unaware they have type two diabetes - putting them at serious risk of blindness, amputation, kidney failure, stroke and heart disease.
It believes there are 17,983 residents with the illness in the town in total.
The new estimate comes from Diabetes Health Intelligence3, a strategic programme of Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory.
Type two diabetes can go undetected for 10 years and around half of people already show signs of complications by the time they are diagnosed.
Early diagnosis and effective management of the condition can cut the risk of developing life-changing complications.
Linda Wood, Diabetes UK Northern and Yorkshire Regional Manager, said: "This new estimate of 3,000 undiagnosed type two cases in Doncaster is truly alarming.
"PCTs need to better prioritise screening of at-risk groups and improve uptake of programmes such as NHS Health Checks.
"We also urgently need more initiatives in the Yorkshire and Humber area such as the Diabetes UK Measure Up campaign to raise awareness of the risk factors and symptoms of type two diabetes and encourage people at risk to go to their GP for a simple diabetes test.
"We face a bleak future of spiralling NHS costs and worsening public health if diagnosis rates for type two diabetes do not improve.
"Diabetes is serious but once people are diagnosed and start managing it, there is every reason they can live long and healthy lives."
The main risk factors for developing type two diabetes are being overweight or having a large waist, being aged over 40 and having a close relative with diabetes. The at-risk age group for the black and Asian community is lower, thought to be from the age of 25.
Diabetes UK is urging anyone who could be at risk of developing the condition to go to their doctor or practice nurse for a simple diabetes test, to find out if they are affected by the condition.
The symptoms include going to the toilet more often and especially at night, increased thirst, extreme tiredness, unexplained weight loss, slow healing of cuts and wounds and blurred vision.
Type two diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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