The number of people living with diabetes in the North East has soared by more than 7,000 compared to this time last year, new figures reveal.
Analysis by charity Diabetes UK shows there are now 184,863 people with the condition in our region, up from 177,826. And the charity has said the UK is in a “rapidly escalating diabetes crisis".
The worst affected area is Northumberland, where 8.5% of people have been diagnosed - the national rate is 7.3% across England, according to the charity. However, Diabetes UK also estimates that, UK-wide, there are 850,000 people living with diabetes but yet to get a diagnosis, so the true picture is likely to be yet more shocking.
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Overall, 4.3m people in the UK have a diagnosis - 90% of the cases are type 2 diabetes, 8% are type 1 diabetes and other forms make up the remainder. Including those not yet diagnosed, that means the charity thinks the number of people with the condition has now topped 5m for the first time.
As a result, the charity said diabetes treatment and prevention must be "a key part of local health leaders plans" and "central" to a new Government strategy. Diabetes UK said: "The focus must be on preventing type 2 diabetes, supporting those at high risk and working to reduce health inequalities in communities where the prevalence of type 2 is worryingly higher than the general population."
Clare Howarth, who heads up the charity's work in the North of England, said: "Diabetes is serious, and every diagnosis is life changing. It’s a relentless condition, and the fear of serious complications is a lifelong reality for millions of people across the UK.
"These latest figures show we’re in the grip of a rapidly escalating diabetes crisis, with spiralling numbers of people now living with type 2 diabetes and millions at high risk of developing the condition.
"But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right care and support, cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or put into remission. What we need to see is the will, grit and determination from Government and local health leaders to halt this crisis in its tracks and improve the future health of our nation for generations to come."
The North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Partnership has made diabetes prevention - and care for children with diabetes - key planks of its strategy to reduce health inequalities. In its "better health and wellbeing for all" strategy, the ICP outlines this, saying: "We will improve the management of long term conditions including diabetes and heart and lung diseases to reduce the impact they have on people's lives.
"This includes ensuring we detect these conditions earlier as well as increasing active management and use of appropriate medication."
Diabetes UK has highlighted how risk factors for type 2 diabetes are "multiple and complex" and include age, family history and ethnicity, along with obesity and the impact of social deprivation
The charity encourages people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of diabetes including, needing to urinate a lot, being thirsty, fatigue and losing weight without trying. The public is also urged to use the Diabetes UK’s free, online Know Your Risk tool on the charity’s website, diabetes.org.uk.
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