People in Lincolnshire are being urged to reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by making some simple changes to their lifestyle ahead of Diabetes Prevention Week, which runs from 23 – 29 May. According to the National Diabetes Audit, there were 48,325 people diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in Lincolnshire in 2020.
Research has consistently shown that for some people, combined lifestyle interventions – including diet, physical activity and sustained weight loss – can be effective in reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes by about 50%.
Over 16,500 people in Lincolnshire have been given the opportunity to help prevent developing Type 2 diabetes thanks to the world leading Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme since its introduction in 2016.
People enrolled in the programme get advice on healthy eating and exercise that can prevent them developing the condition, avoiding the need for medication and complications such as amputations.
In Lincolnshire over 8,500 people have attended the first session of the programme since it was first launched in 2016, with an average weight loss of 3.2kg, six months after attending the first session.
Around one in eight people between 20 and 79 years old have their death attributed to diabetes and it is expected to rise. The life expectancy on average is reduced by up to 10 years for people with the condition.
Being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes can have a devastating impact on people and their families – it is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age and is a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, stroke and many of the common types of cancer.
Black and South Asian people have a higher risk of getting Type 2 diabetes after the age of 25, compared with those from a White background where risk increases after the age of 40.
Anyone at high risk of developing the condition may be eligible to join their local Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, a joint initiative from NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England and Diabetes UK. People should contact their GP Practice for more information. The Diabetes UK ‘Know Your Risk’ tool https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk also enables people to register themselves onto a free local Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme session. There are over 400 groups in existence across Lincolnshire.
Dr Sunil Hindocha, GP and Clinical Lead at NHS Lincolnshire CCG said:
“There are several risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, some of which, such as your age or your family history that can’t be changed. However, there are other risk factors such as your weight which are very much in your control – indeed, the risk of Type 2 diabetes can be reduced by getting support to lose weight, getting more physically active and eating healthy food.
“It’s very important that you find out if you are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes so you can get support to lower your risk. You may also be eligible to sign up for your free local Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
“The programme provides personalised support to help people achieve a healthy weight, improve their diet and become more physically active, all together which have been shown to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Published 23/05/2022