Home Local News West Lancashire residents advised to check their risk of Type 2 diabetes

West Lancashire residents advised to check their risk of Type 2 diabetes

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Residents are being encouraged to check whether they are at risk of Type 2 diabetes this Diabetes Prevention Week (Monday 1 April to Sunday 7 April 2019).

Throughout Diabetes Prevention Week, a series of diabetes awareness and prevention roadshow events will take place at the following locations in West Lancashire.  These are drop-in sessions free for anyone living in West Lancashire, so they can find out more about diabetes and assess whether they are likely to be at risk.  The sessions will also advise on making improvements to general lifestyle choices and health and wellbeing:

  • Wednesday 3 April 2019, Banks Leisure Centre, Greaves Hall Avenue, Banks, 10am – 12pm
  • Thursday 4 April 2019, Edge Hill University, Faculty of Health Foyer, 10am – 2.30pm (open to Edge Hill students only)
  • Friday 5 April 2019, Park Pool, Park Road, Ormskirk, 10am – 12.30pm
  • Friday 5 April 2019, Skelmersdale PULSE, Unit 73, The Concourse Shopping Centre, Skelmersdale, 2pm – 4pm

Joanne Sephton, service redesign manager at NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Around nine out of 10 people living with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.

“Type 2 diabetes can come on slowly, the signs may not be obvious, or there may be no signs at all, therefore knowing whether you’re at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes is important.

“Our risk increases with age, if you have a close relative with diabetes or if you’ve had high blood pressure or you’re overweight, especially if you’re large around the tummy. Smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and being physically inactive can also increase your risk”.

“Type 2 diabetes can be significantly prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy weight, eating well and being active.”

The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, is a free local service for those people who are at risk of Type 2 diabetes.  In West Lancashire 437 people have already been referred into the programme by their GP.

Diabetes and its complications costs the NHS over £10 billion every year to treat and one in six patients in hospital has diabetes. It is closely linked to obesity and there is strong evidence that in many it is preventable.

From July this year, online versions of the programme, which involve wearable technologies and apps to help those at risk of Type 2 diabetes, will be provided for patients who find it difficult to attend sessions because of work or family commitments.

You can check whether you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes online: riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/start

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