Diabetes UK Scotland Calls For Action On Diabetes Crisis

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 15 Nov 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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Diabetes UK Scotland is calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to take action to deal with the diabetes crisis.

New figures reveal that more than a quarter of a million Scottish people live with the condition.

Scottish Parliamentary Questions show that 25,000 more people were diagnosed with diabetes in Scotland last year, bringing the current number of people diagnosed to 193,000.

However, another 61,000 are estimated to have Type 2 diabetes but are presently undiagnosed.

Diabetes UK Scotland is calling for urgent action to raise awareness in order to identify those with the condition and encourage those at risk to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Audrey Birt, Director of Diabetes UK Scotland, said: "Diabetes UK is calling for immediate action on Type 2 diabetes and obesity to prevent future generations facing a lifetime of ill health and an early grave.

"The Action Plan on Health needs to recognise the challenge of diabetes and put a programme in place for identification and prevention of diabetes."

She added: "In Scotland, over 40 people a day are diagnosed with diabetes and we know that there are tens of thousands who remain undiagnosed. Most of these were cases of Type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to obesity and has reached epidemic proportions across the world."

http://www.diabetes.org.uk