Oxfordshire residents urged to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes

Date: 16 April 2018

xx

Oxfordshire residents are being urged to eat healthily and be more active to help reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes during Diabetes Prevention Week (16-22 April 2018).

It is estimated that around 56,000 people in Oxfordshire are currently at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which can lead to other serious conditions including strokes, heart disease, limb amputation and early death.

GPs and other healthcare professionals in Oxfordshire are using Diabetes Prevention Week, which starts today (Monday 16 April), to urge residents to find out if they are at risk and take action to improve their future health.  You can check to see if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes on the Diabetes UK website

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a free local service for people who are at risk of type 2 diabetes. The programme is designed to stop or delay the onset of the disease through a range of personalised lifestyle interventions, including education on lifestyle choices, advice on how to reduce weight through healthier eating and bespoke physical activity programmes.

Nearly 1,300 people have been referred on to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in Oxfordshire since it started in 2017, with more than 220 people already started  on the 10 month course.

Dr Amar Latif, a GP in Eynsham who is leading the programme on behalf of the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “While more people than ever have the condition, Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable.

“This prevention programme, which we have rolled out in Oxfordshire, puts people in control of their health. It can help them avoid a disease which can lead to many serious health problems, including heart attacks, stroke and loss of sight.

“Patients in Oxfordshire who are concerned they may be at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be referred to the programme."

Diabetes UK figures show that the number of people who have been diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in Oxfordshire has increased by 1,544 since last year – from 27,925 to 29,469. The diabetes prevalence figure for Oxfordshire is 4.97 per cent.

Diabetes and its complications cost more than £6 billion every year to treat and one in six patients in hospital has diabetes. Around nine out of 10 people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which is closely linked to obesity and yet is largely preventable by eating healthily, being more active and losing weight.

 

  • Summary:

    Diabetes Prevention Week in Oxfordshire

  • Transformation:
  • Date:
    16 April 2018