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70,000
South Asian and Black people in UK Unaware They Have Diabetes
More
than 70,000 people of South Asian and black origin in the UK are not aware
they that have diabetes and run the risk of developing
complications including heart attacks, blindness and amputations.
People
of South Asian and black origin are up to four times more likely to
develop Type 2 diabetes and are likely to develop the condition and its
complications at a younger age than the rest of the population.
More
than 300,000 people of South Asian and black origin across the UK have
already been diagnosed with diabetes.
There
are 2.3 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK, and up to a
further 750,000 who have Type 2 diabetes but don't yet know it.
The
Diabetes UK Measure Up roadshow will be visiting five locations in London
and providing free tests as well as information and advice. These
locations have been chosen to try and reach as many South Asian and black
people as possible. The roadshow tour starts in Haringey on 19 March and
over the next couple of weeks will visit Redbridge, Wembley, Neasden and
Ealing.
The
Diabetes UK Measure Up campaign, in partnership with NHS London, aims to
get people in London measuring their waist to see if they are at risk of
Type 2 diabetes, as having a large waist means you are up to twelve times
more likely to develop diabetes. Overall around 135,000 people of South
Asian and black origin in London have already been diagnosed with diabetes
and a further 30,000 people have diabetes but are unaware of it.
At
risk waist measurements are 37 inches or more for men, except those of
South Asian origin who are at risk at 35 inches or more, and 31.5 inches
or more for all women. Other risk factors include being aged over 40, or
25 for people of South Asian and black origin, or having a family history
of Type 2 diabetes.
Douglas
Smallwood, Chief Executive of leading health charity Diabetes UK, said:
"Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing us today.
It’s shocking that there are thousands of people across the UK that have
diabetes but are going about their daily lives unaware they have a
condition that puts them at greater risk of heart disease, blindness,
kidney failure and amputations.
"In
London there are around 70,000 people with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes –
around 30,000 of these people are of Black or South Asian origin. By the
time people are diagnosed, around half already have signs of
complications. The sooner people find out they have the condition, the
sooner they can start managing their diabetes to reduce the risk of life
threatening complications."
"Diabetes
is a serious condition which can lead to complications including heart
disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation.
"Type
2 diabetes can be undetected for up to 12 years, and 50 per cent of people
with the condition have signs of complications when they are diagnosed.
This is why screening is so vital to the health of the nation."
Visit
www.diabetes.org.uk/MeasureUp
to find out if you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes.
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