Doug Naysmith MP recently took part in the Diabetes UK awareness day in Parliament to highlight waist measurement as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK’s Measure Up awareness campaign urges people to grab a tape measure and check their waistline as a quick and easy first step to assess their diabetes risk.
Doug Naysmith said; “As there are many undiagnosed cases of diabetes within the UK, I believe it is important to highlight the warning signs and risks associated with diabetes. I fully support Diabetes UK and this campaign, and hope that it will encourage people to consider their own diabetes risk and help to increase the current rate of diagnosis.”
Research has shown that a large waist could mean you are up to twelve times more likely to develop diabetes. At risk waist measurements are 37 inches or more for men, except those of South Asian origin whose waists should not exceed 35 inches, and 31.5 inches or more for all women.
The campaign is also urging Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to be proactive in ensuring that all people with diabetes are diagnosed early to help prevent the life-threatening complications of the condition. The most recent National results released by the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory show a significant regional disparity across England, with some PCTs having diagnosed only around half of their diabetic population.
The average proportion of people diagnosed across the UK is only 72.0 per cent, leaving over a quarter of people undiagnosed. Bristol North PCT had managed to identify 68.2 percentage of people with diabetes and the locality.
Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK said, “There are 750,000 people in the UK who have diabetes but don’t know it – that’s equivalent to the entire population of Leeds. Many people don’t realise they’re at risk and shockingly can go undiagnosed for up to 12 years. The longer people are left undiagnosed, the higher their risk of heart attacks, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. Our simple health check could save many people from a future of ill health.”
As part of the Measure Up campaign, the charity is also launching its ‘Are you at risk?’ online tool, a two minute interactive test, designed to help people understand how high their diabetes risk is. Measure Up aims to make people aware of the risk factors including waist size, weight, age, family history and ethnicity and encourage those with at least two risk factors to get themselves tested. The campaign is kindly supported by an educational grant from Sanofi-aventis.
In support of Measure Up, Prime Minister Tony Blair said, “I was pleased to learn that you (Diabetes UK) will soon be launching an awareness campaign to highlight that obesity is a risk factor when it comes to Type 2 diabetes. The Government values the dedication and application of Diabetes UK in addressing diabetes issues. I wish you a successful awareness campaign.”
Measure Up is also supported by Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Health Services with responsibility for diabetes issues, and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes.
