Diabetes UK Measure Up Roadshow Is A Triumph

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 02 Dec 2009 - 3:00 PST

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Diabetes UK's Measure Up Roashow 2009 has encouraged thousands of people in the UK to measure their waists and find out if they are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

So far, the Roadshow has handed out 71,000 leaflets and flyers and risk assessed 4,527 people, out of which 1,504 have been referred to their GP to find out of they have Type 2 diabetes.

The Measure Up Roadshow, which kicked off in June, is touring the country until the end of December in a bid to help people find out more about Type 2 diabetes and its risk factors. These include:

- having a large waist (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.)
- being over 40 years old or over 25 if you are of Black or South Asian origin
- being of Black or South Asian origin and having a family history of the condition.

Phillip Schofield asks you to Measure Up

The campaign is backed by TV presenter Phillip Schofield. He said: "I am delighted to be supporting Diabetes UK's Measure Up campaign which asks people to measure their waists and find out if they are at risk of Type 2 diabetes.

"My mother and brother both have diabetes so I know first-hand how it can impact a person and their family's life. As diabetes runs in my own family I ensure that my family and I try to lead a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

A serious condition

"There are 2.25 million people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the UK and another 500,000 who have the condition but don't know. I would urge everyone to visit one of Diabetes UK's Roadshows this year to discover if they could be one of those 500,000 and to find out more about diabetes.

"It is a serious condition and if untreated can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke and blindness. The sooner people are diagnosed, the sooner they can start treating their diabetes and help reduce the risk of developing these devastating complications."

Dates and locations

The Measure Up Roadshow is visiting Banbridge and Dartford on December 1 and 2, and Newry on December 4 and 5.

Source
Diabetes UK

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