Five million people in England are at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new official figures.
Across the country more than one in 10 adults has high blood sugar levels – indicating a significantly heightened chance of developing the condition, Public Health England figures show.
Only last week, new figures revealed that the number of people already living with some form of diabetes in the UK have soared 60 per cent in the past decade, to 3.3m.
To try to make sense of these shocking statistics www.independent.co.uk published a great article which we found really interesting.
They reported that left unchecked, diabetes can lead to serious complications, including heart disease and stroke, eye problems and damage to the kidneys. Damage to the nerves in the foot mean that nicks and cuts go unnoticed, which can combine with poor circulation to create ulcers. In severe cases, these ulcers can become infected, requiring a foot amputation. PHE said that diabetes leads to 22,000 early deaths every year.
In a bid to control the soaring costs of managing the condition, the NHS is to embark on a major new prevention programme, which will target people identified by an NHS Health Check, or through a routine blood test, as having a high risk.
The programme will support people to lose weight, stay active and maintain a healthy diet. Public Health England said that evidence showed such supportive programmes could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 26 per cent among high risk groups.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued new guidelines today on helping children and adults manage the conditions, with a particular focus on preventing diabetes-related amputations, amid evidence that up to 70 per cent of people die within five years of a diabetic foot ulcer and amputation.
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This article was taken in part from The Independent online. To read the article in full click here
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