Public HealthDiabetes UK Launches Its National Measure Up Roadshows
Diabetes UK launches its national Measure Up Roadshow today to tackle the diabetes epidemic, as it reveals that more than 1.7 million people in the UK could have avoided developing Type 2 diabetes.
There are 2.25 million people in the UK with Type 2 diabetes and yet 80 per cent of these cases could have been prevented through adopting a healthy diet and increased physical activity.
The Measure Up Roadshow, which runs from June to December and will visit 110 locations across the UK, encourages people to measure their waists to see if they are at risk of Type 2 diabetes, as having a large waist means you are up to 12 times more likely to develop the condition. 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.
Raising awareness
The campaign also raises awareness of other risk factors for Type 2 diabetes including being over 40 years old, being of black or South Asian origin and having a family history of the condition. Diabetes UK staff will be offering free diabetes risk assessment tests at some of the roadshows.
Four in five with Type 2 diabetes could have avoided it
"Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing us today," said Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK.
"It is regrettable that 80 per cent of people with Type 2 diabetes could have avoided it by making simple but important changes to their lifestyle. This is why I would urge everyone who can to visit a Diabetes UK Measure Up Roadshow near them. It could be the best thing you ever do for your health.
"The Measure Up Roadshow will also emphasise that it is important for people who already have diabetes to have a healthy diet that is low in fat, salt and sugar with plenty of fruit and vegetables and to take regular physical activity in order to avoid serious complications like heart disease."
Diabetes is serious
TV presenter Phillip Schofield is backing the charity"s awareness campaign. 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 firsthand 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.
"There are already 2.25 million people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the UK and another 500,000 who have it and don"t know. I would urge people 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 kidney disease, stroke and blindness. The sooner people are diagnosed, the sooner they can start treating their diabetes to help reduce the risk of developing these devastating complications."
Measure Up destinations this week
Measure Up Roadshows will visit Aberdeen, Harrow, Telford, and Elgin in Northern Ireland this week - see our Roadshow section for a full list of times and destinations.
Diabetes UK would like to thank the HBOS Foundation for its support of the Measure Up Roadshow.
Diabetes Uk