Hull and East Yorkshire residents are being urged to eat healthily and be more active in order to help reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes during Diabetes Prevention Week (16-22 April 2018).
It is estimated that around 54,000 people in Hull and East Yorkshire are currently at risk of developing type 2 diabetes; which can lead to other serious conditions including strokes, heart disease, limb amputation, blindness and early death.
Diabetes and its complications cost over £6 billion every year to treat and one in six patients in hospital has diabetes. Around nine out of 10 people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes which is closely linked to obesity and yet is largely preventable by eating healthily, being more active and losing weight.
GPs and other healthcare professionals in Hull and East Yorkshire are using Diabetes Prevention Week, which starts today, to urge residents to find out if they are at risk and take action to improve their future health.
From July 2018 the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme will be available in Hull and East Yorkshire. The Diabetes Prevention Programme is a free local service for those who are at risk of type 2 diabetes. The Programme is designed to stop or delay the onset of the disease through a range of personalised lifestyle interventions, including education on lifestyle choices, advice on how to reduce weight through healthier eating and bespoke physical activity programmes.
Dr James Crick, Associate Medical Director for NHS Hull CCG said: “Since 1996 the number of people with diabetes in the UK has more than doubled from 1.4 million to 3.3 million and it is estimated that 5 million people are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Both Hull and east Riding of Yorkshire CCG’s are committed to supporting the reduction in the number of people developing this disease.”
Dr Gina Palumbo, Local GP and East Riding of Yorkshire CCG Chair said: “For those people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, simply making small lifestyle changes can have a very positive impact on their future health. This is why GP practices throughout Hull and East Riding are keen to take part in the prevention programme to help empower patients to improve the management of their health and wellbeing.”
High risk groups includes those from certain ethnic backgrounds including South Asian, Black African and Black Caribbean.
You can check to see if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes at www.diabetes.org.uk/risk
