City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy has backed a campaign for a "greater focus" on early intervention when it comes to cases of Type 2 diabetes.
Ms Foy - who has been a Labour MP since 2019 - has spoken out in support of two local medics. NHS GPs Dr Paul Baker and Dr Amanda Porch have set up social enterprise Diabetes Lifestyle Doctors. The husband-and-wife duo want to combat "mixed messages" around Type 2 diabetes.
The MP said more work to prevent diabetes and improve outcomes for those who did contract it was vital if the Government was to tackle health inequality. She said: "Diabetes is a major health issue in my constituency and the North East.
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"Our region suffers from serious health inequalities, and diabetes is an important aspect. According to health inequalities expert Professor Marmot, someone who lives in a deprived area of the North East will likely have poorer health outcomes than someone living in a similarly deprived area in London."
In 2020-2021, there were more than 38,000 people in County Durham with diabetes - the vast majority of cases are type 2 diabetes. Ms Foy added that solving the problem would require "rebalancing" the services available in deprived areas. She said: "This will also involve changing the treatment paradigm for health conditions like type 2 diabetes, with a greater focus on preventative work and early intervention. As such, I will be looking to raise the importance of this approach within the NHS in Parliament at the earliest opportunity."
The doctors - who both continue to work on a locum basis within the NHS too - aim to offer a range of support and take an "holistic approach" to tackling diabetes, and offer support around factors including diet and exercise and mental health. Dr Baker added: "I truly think the NHS does an exceptional job in light of the scale of the problem we're facing in this country. But, unfortunately, the majority of the resources are directed towards managing diabetes complications, of which there are many."
He said "more intensive lifestyle intervention" when someone is newly-diagnosed could be a "game-changer". Experts like Newcastle University' s Prof Roy Taylor have shown how diet changes in particular can "reverse" the effects of type 2 diabetes.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme had supported more than a million people to avoid type 2 diabetes over the past six years. They added: "The Health and Social Care Secretary has been clear that tackling health disparities is a priority, and our Health Disparities White Paper, due later this year, will set out a series of impactful measures to help people live longer and happier lives in good physical and mental health. "
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