7:30am Saturday 4th September 2010
By Claire Lomax
Thousands of people in the Bradford district are sitting on a diabetes timebomb, “alarming” new figures have revealed.
Diabetes Health Intelligence, a strategic programme of Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory, now estimates 7,400 people in the district are living with Type 2 diabetes – and don’t even know it.
The study says people with the undiagnosed illness are putting themselves at serious risk of devastating complications, such as blindness, amputation, kidney failure, stroke and heart disease.
Health bosses have now totally revamped their approach to tackling the illness in a bid to get the thousands of unwitting sufferers on to treatment programmes.
The figures account for almost a quarter of the entire estimated diabetic population – both diagnosed and undiagnosed – in the district, which the study says now tops 32,000.
Type 2 diabetes can go undetected for up to ten 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 are crucial in reducing the risk of developing life-changing complications.
Linda Wood, Diabetes UK Northern and Yorkshire regional manager, said: “This new estimate of more than 7,000 undiagnosed Type 2 cases in Bradford and Airedale is truly alarming. “PCTs need to better prioritise screening of at-risk groups and improve uptake of programmes such as NHS Health Checks.”
Chris Harris, GP and clinical lead for diabetes for NHS Bradford and Airedale said: “We are aware of the significant increase in diabetes and this is one of our priority health challenges.
“More clinics are now provided closer to people’s homes and access to services for patients with diabetes has been improved, particularly those from disadvantaged groups. By the end of the year, over 40 GP practices across the district will be able to give patients advanced diabetes care.
“Our community development team regularly organises events, in areas of Bradford where prevalence of type 2 diabetes is high, to increase early detection.
“These events help people to recognise signs, get tested for the condition and offer vital support for people who already have diabetes to help people manage the condition properly.”
The main risk factors for developing Type 2 diabetes are being overweight or having a large waist, being aged over 40 (or over 25 in black and South Asian people) and having a close relative with diabetes.
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