70,000 Londoners Unaware They Have Diabetes, UK

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 25 Mar 2008 - 1:00 PST

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The Diabetes UK Measure Up roadshow will visit five locations in London and provide free diabetes tests, as well as information and advice.

The roadshow tour starts in Haringey on 19 March and over the next couple of weeks will also visit Redbridge, Wembley, Neasden and Ealing.

Around 70,000 people in London have Type 2 diabetes but don't know it and run the risk of developing complications such as heart attacks, blindness and amputations.

Who is at risk?

People of Black or South Asian origin

People of Black or South Asian origin have a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and are likely to develop the condition and its complications at a younger age than the rest of the population.

People with large waists

Around 300,000 people in London have so far been diagnosed as having diabetes. 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.

Recent research* has found most people perceive themselves to be slimmer than they really are. When 500 people were asked to estimate their waist size, most under-estimated by an average of 2.7 inches. Men were the most deluded and underestimated their waist size by a significant 3.1 inches (7.9 cm), while the estimates of South Asian women were generally the most accurate.

At-risk waist measurements

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

Other risk factors include being aged over 40, or 25 for people of Black and South Asian origin, or having a family history of Type 2 diabetes.

Visit the roadshow for a free diabetes test

Diabetes UK recommends that anyone with two or more risk factors should come along to one of the roadshows for a free diabetes test.

Thousands unaware

"Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing us today," said Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK.

"It's shocking that there are thousands of people in London who 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.

Early diagnosis reduces risk of complications

"Across London we estimate there are around 70,000 people with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. 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 UK